Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), was one of the leading Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), the first Secretary of State (1789-1793), the founder of the Republican Party (1793) in opposition to the Federalist Party of his arch-rival Alexander Hamilton. Elected President in 1800, Jefferson purchased Louisiana in 1803, but relations with Britain soured after 1805. Jefferson is best known as political theorist who helped redefine Republicanism and promoted democracy and equal rights, while fighting aristocracy and established religion.

The Federalists and Republicans were the first two modern political parties in the world. With his close ally James Madison Jefferson opposed the Hamiltonian programs for national finance, especially the First National Bank. Jefferson and his Republicans supported the French Revolution (from 1793 to 1800), while the Federalists favored Britain. President George Washington managed to maintain neutrality in the war between Britain and France. Hamilton had more influence than Jefferson, even in foreign policy, as shown by Hamilton's success in securing the Jay Treaty of 1795 that opened ten years of friendly trade with Britain. Jefferson and Madison secretly wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798, which argued the right of state governments to nullify federal laws they considered unconstitutional; this was the start of the States Rights theory that played a role in the coming of the American Civil War in 1861 and still plays a role in Constitutional debates. Jefferson was elected President in 1800, in what his supporters called the Revolution of 1800. In his first term he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with France, but was unable to purge the Supreme Court. Jefferson's second term was marked by escalating tensions with both Britain and France (which were at war with each other). Jefferson;s use of economic warfare, especially the Embargo of 1807, failed, and the War of 1812 with Britain came three years after he left office. In political retirement Jefferson helped create and design the University of Virginia, as well as his home of Monticello. The modern Democratic party claims direct descent from Jefferson. Conservative George Wills has called him the "Man of the Millennium"-- that is the most influential person in world history over the last 1000 years.

Bibliography

• Richard B. Bernstein. Thomas Jefferson (2005)
• Noble E. Jr Cunningham. In Pursuit of Reason: The Life of Thomas Jefferson (1988)
• Joseph J. Ellis. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson (1998)

Primary sources

Thomas Jefferson Writings (1984, Library of America); includes Autobiography, Notes on the State of Virginia, Public and Private Papers, Addresses and Letters. 1600pp