President Thomas Jefferson example essay topic

Lenora Spahn 9/22/00 Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson A. Born- April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Va. B. Died- July 4, 1826 II. Background A. Educational- College of William and Mary (1760-1762), 5 year apprenticeship studying law under George Wythe. B. Occupational- 1. Began to practice law on his own: representing small scale planters from western countries involving land claims and titles. 2. House of Burgesses, elected 1768: Opposed all forms of Parliamentary taxation and supported nonimportation resolutions against British trade regulations.

3. Committee of Correspondence, 1773: Served as a makeshift Central Government for colonies and advocated that colonies refuse to pay any duty leveled by Parliament. 4. Virginia Convention in Richmond Virginia, 1775: Virginia, the largest colony decided towards liberty for America.

5. Continental Congress, 1776: Chosen to write the Declaration of Independance, telling reasons for fighting against England (along with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston). 6. Governor of Virginia, 1779: dealt with the lack of money, weaponry and soldiers during the end of the Revolution.

7. Virginia Delegate to Congress, 1783: Designed a new system of money for the U.S. Based on 10.8. First Secretary of State, 1790: Under President Washington- 1. In charge of post office, office for inventions and office of money 2. Set rules for weights and measure.

3. Established foreign relations 9. Vice President under John Adams, (1796-1800): One of his only duties was to preside over the Senate- since there were no clear rules, wrote A Manuel of Parliamentary Practice.. Terms Of Office A. First Term (1801-1805) Wed. March 4, 1801, inaugurated 3rd president of the United States. B. Second Term (1804-1809) IV. Prominent Issues of the Elections A. Since electors did not state which of the two candidates they prefer, there was no way to decide which of the candidates should become President.

Jefferson was elected in a second election held in the House of Representatives, and soon legislation was passed that each person would vote for one candidate for president and one for vice-president. V. Opponent A. First Term- John Adams, Aaron Burr B. Second Term- Charles C. PickneyVI. Vice Presidents A. First Term- Aaron Burr B. Second Term- George Clinton VII. Political Party- Democratic-Republican V. Domestic Events A. Ohio enters the Union, 1803: Despite efforts from the Federalists, Ohio became the 17th state on March 1, 1803. B. Maury vs. Madison, 1803: Jefferson failed to uphold the law by refusing to appoint Marbury as justice of the peace in the district of Columbia. Marshall, a judiciary political genius, enhanced the power of the Supreme Court after denying it's jurisdiction and patronizing Jefferson by deciding the case in his favor. C. Lewis in Clark Expedition, 1804: Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the Missouri River. On November 7, 1805, the expedition reached the Pacific ocean, leading into an era of westward expansion. D. 12th Amendment Ratified, 1804: the twelfth amendment states that each member of the electoral college shall vote for one candidate for President, and one candidate for vice- president. E. Zebulon Pike explores the west, 1806: American explorer and army officer he led an expedition to discover the source of the Mississippi River. The next year he explored the Louisiana Territory; he fell into Spanish territory and was captured but released. F. Burr Conspiracy, 1807: Former Vice President, Aaron Burr schemed to detach the U. S southwest to set up an in dependant nation-state, with himself as the benevolent depot.

IX. Major Foreign Policy A. Louisiana Purchase, 1803: Spain was interfering with U. S Shipping on the Mississippi at New Orleans, where the River flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, so Jefferson bought New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory from the French. B. War with Barbary Pirates, 1804: Jefferson had opposed paying tribute to protect American shipping from the pirates who operated from the Barbary states on the coast of northern Africa. In 1801, the ruler of Tripoli demanded tribute money past the amount fixed by treaty. The war with Tripoli ended in 1805, when Captain William Eaton captured the Tripolitan town of Dern a and the pasha agreed to make peace. C. Chesapeake and Leopard Affair, 1807: In June 1807 the United States frigate Chesapeake was stopped by the British ship Leopard.

When the Chesapeake refused to permit a search, the Leopard fired upon it. The helpless American ship was forced to surrender four of its men. One was a British deserter, but three were Americans. Many Americans wanted to go to war against Britain. D. Embargo Act, 1807: Essentially closed American Ports to all foreign trade. Unfortunately, this wrecked the American economy, had no discernible effect on the economy of France or England, and required the federal government to exercise coercive powers (contradicting the Jeffersonian principle of limited government). E. Slave Trade to the U.S. outlawed according to Constitutional compromise, 1808: Congress passed a law prohibiting the importation of Slaves from Africa, effective January 1, 1808.

Jefferson, supposedly being against slavery, and he urged the law through congress. F. The Non-Intercourse Act, 1809: basically just a moderate version of the Embargo Act. X. Major Conflict A. The major conflict was foreign trade and the trade embargoes and naval troubles that the United States had with Britain and France caused the most influential decisions Jefferson was forced to make. XI. Major Inventions and Technological Advancements A. Fulton's Steamboat, 1807: Robert Fulton's side-paddled, steam-powered riverboat made its first commercial voyage in Clermont. B. In 1806, David Melville attempted the construction of gas street lighting in Rhode Island. XII. Overall rating of the President Thomas Jefferson is one of the most eagerly embraced Presidents in American history due not only to his.