The third president of the United States was Thomas Jefferson. He was born in 1743 and grew up in a wealthy plantation with his family near present-day Charlottesville, Virginia. Since at an early age, Jefferson learned all about Latin, Greek, and French history from the Anglican clergy. After the death of his father, he inherited the large plantation he lived in along with slaves that worked there. During his higher education years, Thomas Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary where he was exposed to Enlightment views and studied law. He also read about the teachings of intellectuals from different eras such as Jesus Christ, Aristotle, and John Locke who would greatly influence his political views. Afterward, Jefferson worked
…show more content…
The establishment of frugality in the government proved to be successful as the president was able to reduce the debt to fifty-seven million dollars by the end of his second term (Meacham 387). Another difficulty was the Federalist influence in the government. On his last day serving as president, John Adams appointed over forty-two judges; their letters signed but not all delivered. Since at the time judges served for an unlimited term, the appointments signified that the Federalist could have more power in the judicial branch. The judges, led by William Marbury, appealed to the Supreme Court to obtain their commissions; however, the Court’s decision did not force Jefferson to grant …show more content…
As written on the Constitution, the president preferred to remain neutral in the war between Great Britain and France. On the contrary, both nations wanted the United States to take a side. Britain detested the French receiving American supplies as well, so they executed a naval blockade to stop American merchant ships from reaching the European coast (AMH 261). President Jefferson strategized the Embargo Act of 1807 to make both powers recognize the United States’ neutrality (Gilje 1). The plan was a complete failure since the American economy depended on foreign trade. Port cites were abandoned, sailors begged for work, and farmers declared bankruptcy as crop prices plummeted (Gilje 2). Even though he assumed the trade prohibition would only affect the European nations, Jefferson underestimated the people’s dependence on trade which he recognized when the Congress repealed the embargo (AMH
The establishment of frugality in the government proved to be successful as the president was able to reduce the debt to fifty-seven million dollars by the end of his second term (Meacham 387). Another difficulty was the Federalist influence in the government. On his last day serving as president, John Adams appointed over forty-two judges; their letters signed but not all delivered. Since at the time judges served for an unlimited term, the appointments signified that the Federalist could have more power in the judicial branch. The judges, led by William Marbury, appealed to the Supreme Court to obtain their commissions; however, the Court’s decision did not force Jefferson to grant …show more content…
As written on the Constitution, the president preferred to remain neutral in the war between Great Britain and France. On the contrary, both nations wanted the United States to take a side. Britain detested the French receiving American supplies as well, so they executed a naval blockade to stop American merchant ships from reaching the European coast (AMH 261). President Jefferson strategized the Embargo Act of 1807 to make both powers recognize the United States’ neutrality (Gilje 1). The plan was a complete failure since the American economy depended on foreign trade. Port cites were abandoned, sailors begged for work, and farmers declared bankruptcy as crop prices plummeted (Gilje 2). Even though he assumed the trade prohibition would only affect the European nations, Jefferson underestimated the people’s dependence on trade which he recognized when the Congress repealed the embargo (AMH