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Overarching Lesson
Thomas Jefferson, a true renaissance man and multidisciplinary polymath, fought repeatedly throughout his life to protect the citizenry from facing abuses from tyrannical government. As a statesman he advanced legislation that would later serve as the basis of the Bill of Rights. As a national politician he founded the party that represented frontiersmen and independent farmers. As president he conducted a land purchase that doubled the size of the United States, providing many opportunities. -
Jefferson is Born
TJ is born on Peter Jefferson's plantation 'Shadwell' in Albemarle County, Virginia. It was named after the London birthplace of his mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson. Jefferson inherited much of his father's landholdings and slaves at 21, and ran a slave-operated cash crop operation (mainly tobacco) until he gifted the deed to Shadwell to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. -
Jefferson is Admitted Under Virginia Bar
After studying under jurist George Wythe for five years at the College of William and Mary, Jefferson becomes a lawyer for eight years. Thomas would later defeat his mentor in a high-profile case over a will execution dispute (Bolling v. Bolling) in 1771. Jefferson's legal experience with the juxtaposition between English common law (precedent) and 'natural law' (birthright) would likely later serve as the basis for his political treatises - most notably the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
Decided upon at the 2nd Continental Congress. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams contributed to it, but Jefferson was most imperative. George III had rejected Congress's Olive Branch Petition and was pulling out all the stops to quell colonial insubordination, increasing the popularity of secession. Jefferson employed the 'natural law' philosophy of law to make his argument that all citizens were entitled to equal, unalienable rights. -
Elected 2nd Governor of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson succeeds Patrick Henry as Governor of Virginia on June 1st, 1779. The gov. of VA was assisted by a 'Council of State' comprised of 8 men elected by the General Assembly. One of these men was James Madison, who would go on to become TJ's greatest political ally. TJ inherited dismal finances in the office because there was too little specie and too much paper money; which made it very difficult for him to contribute against the British troops assailing the Carolinas. -
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TJ Serves as Minister to France
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Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom
Jefferson sought out to fight "tyranny over the mind of man" in politics. The legally actionable section of the statute: “-no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened … on account of his religious opinions or beliefs.” Jefferson asserted that this was based on natural rights - and that any attempt to repeal this legislature later would be an "infringement of natural right." -
Washington appoints Jefferson as Secretary of State
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The Bill of Rights
Primarily designed by Jefferson's long-time ally James Madison, the Bill of Rights was proposed to protect the rights of individuals and provides protections from government abuse. Following its adoption, 9/13 states finally approved the ratification of the Constitution, breaking the stalemate in the Ratification Debates. The concepts of the Virginia Statute written prior by Jefferson would be adapted into the 1st Amendment protections for religious freedom and free speech. -
Democratic-Republican Party Founded - The First Party System
The DR were led by Thomas Jefferson as the successors to the Anti-Federalists who fizzled out after the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The DR constituency was comprised of frontiersmen and small-scale farmers. The DR was suspicious of mercantile elites, and they opposed big banks and fiduciary policy that rewarded speculation. Thomas Jefferson and the DRs had a vision of America that remained agrarian and locally governed. -
The Jay Treaty & Quasi-War with France
Alexander Hamilton created this treaty with the consent of President Washington to reconcile relations with England. This enraged the French, who captured 300+ American trade ships bound for London over the next 4 years. On the 16th of May, 1797, President Adams advised Congress to begin a military build-up out of concern that tensions may escalate with France, beginning the "Quasi-War with France". -
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Election of 1796
George Washington chose not to serve as POTUS for a 3rd term, establishing an unspoken custom that would continue until FDR. This was a very bitter election. Federalist candidate John Adams ultimately won out over Thomas Jefferson -
Alien and Sedition Acts - Abuse of Power?
The A&S Acts passed in a bout of nationalist furor over the 'XYZ Affair' where French ministers demanded bribes before even beginning negotiations to ameliorate relations that went south over the Jay Treaty. The Federalists surged in popularity for standing up the the French and touted the phrase: "Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute!" The Acts empowered the POTUS to deport any threatening alien and made it illegal to criticize Congress or the President. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Jefferson countered the abuse of power displayed by the Adams administration through the Alien & Sedition Act - often used to harass newspapers that endorsed Jefferson's DR party. Critics of the A&SA lambasted Adam's "reign of witches" for persecuting free speech and endangering the republic. Jefferson argued that the states had the power to oppose unconstitutional federal policies. Critics of the Resolutions suggested that KY and VA had violated the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. -
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The Revolution of 1800
Jefferson wins out over Adams. This election was a very important test for the nascent American republic - would power really transfer between political enemies peacefully? This election did away with the practice of Vice President being awarded to the runner-up candidate. Jefferson's chosen VP is Aaron Burr. -
Marbury v. Madison
Decided in 1803, this case established the precedent of judicial review; which allows the Supreme Court to review whether legislation adheres to the Constitution. John Adams had made a number of 'midnight appointments' while a lame duck after losing the election of 1800 to TJ. TJ appoints his secretary of state James Madison (whose job includes mailing court appointments) and tells him not to deliver Adam's midnight appointments. The court obligated Madison to appoint William Marbury to his post -
The Louisiana Purchase
The French were reeling from the Haitian Revolution which ousted their colonizers and were preparing for an imminent war with England, so they were desperate for a cash injection. Jefferson initiated negotiations (w/o consultation of Congress) only seeking purchase of New Orleans and shipping rights on the Mississippi. France counter-offered with $15 million for the entire Louisiana Territory. Jefferson eschewed his commitment to a moderate executive because he believed it too beneficial for US. -
University of Virigina Founded
Architecturally Neoclassical, the Rotunda of the UoV is a half-scale replication of The Pantheon. The buildings were created to be didactic in form, as Jefferson was a passionate student of architecture. While acting as an envoy in Europe he got the opportunity to see many buildings of the Roman republic that inspired the anti-monarchy sentiments of the Revolution. Jefferson founded this secular university because he was discontent with the theology intertwined with education in America. -
Jefferson Dies
Dying the same day as his long-time rival John Adams, Jefferson wrote his own epitaph before his death outlining what he believed to be his greatest achievements. It reads:Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
author of the
Declaration
of
American Independence
of the
Statute of Virginia
for
religious freedom
and father of the
University of Virginia -
Sources (1/2)
Cunningham, Noble E. "Election of 1800." Election of 1800. Facts On File, 2019. Accessed March 23, 2023. online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=95543&itemid=WE52&articleId=535692 Cunningham, Noble E. "The (Federalist?) Presidency of Thomas Jefferson." A Companion to Thomas Jefferson. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Accessed March 24, 2023. online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=95543&itemid=WE52&articleId=369554 -
Sources (2/2)
Dorfman, Joseph. “The Economic Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson.” Political Science Quarterly 55, no. 1 (1940): 98–121. https://doi.org/10.2307/2143776 Jefferson, Thomas. “From Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 2 June 1807,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-5683