Thomas Jefferson: The Life and Roles of a Founding Father

The life of a Founding Father named Thomas Jefferson was not an ordinary man's life. His election as a president began the fall of Federalism and the Federalist Party. He also made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which more than doubled the size of the United States. Thomas Jefferson was also the first United States Secretary of State. Thomas Jefferson had a very political mind, as he discussed many governmental issues after the Revolutionary War.

Thomas Jefferson had a very unique life. He discussed issues and improvements about the Constitution, congressional issues, human rights, and many more topics. He exchanged many letters with John Adams and James Madison regarding these issues. One of Thomas Jefferson's beliefs was that central banking was un-Constitutional because one entity controlled all the money. Thomas Jefferson's life got even busier during the Revolutionary War.

During the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson played many political roles. He was in the First and Second Continental Congress, and he was the governor of Virginia in 1779-1781, which was part of the War. In addition, he served in the House of Burgesses, which was equivalent to the English government's Parliament. Thomas Jefferson is also well-known for writing the Declaration of Independence. Due to Thomas Jefferson's different political roles, he had many views of important issues at the time.

Thomas Jefferson's had views that contested with slavery. In 1778, the legislature passed a bill, proposed by Thomas Jefferson, which banned further importation of slaves into Virginia. However, many people found it hypocritical that that Thomas Jefferson owned more than 650 slaves in his lifetime, and a portion of that number had been inherited from his parents and wife's parents. Also, in 1769, when Thomas Jefferson was a member of the House of Burgesses, he proposed to emancipate slaves in Virginia, but did not succeed.

Furthermore, there was one specific trade act that Thomas Jefferson passed made some people think he was out of his mind. The Embargo Act of 1807 prohibited all trade with outside countries. This was originated from the proclamation that ordered all British ships out of American waters, due to a British ship attacking an American ship. The Embargo Act was passed to assure neutrality between the United States and other countries.

As the writer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was a man who fought for States Rights, and disliked Central Government. He was opposed against central banking, because Jefferson said that it was un-Constitutional for one entity to control all funds. He believed that every bank should be its own bank, not linked to a central system. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, so it is not surprising for him to be fighting for States Rights. Thomas Jefferson was a very Constitutional man.

Thomas Jefferson proved to be a political man during and after the Revolutionary War. He fought against and for various issues during and after the War. He played his role as a politician very well. Very few could succeed his role as a politician and a Founding Father. Thomas Jefferson was even proud of himself throughout his lifetime.

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Works Cited:

Smith, James M., ed. The Republic of Letters. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 1995. Print.

"Jefferson, Thomas." New World Encyclopedia. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.

Kelly, Martin. "Thomas Jefferson Biography - Third President of the United States." About.com: American History. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Web. 20 Nov. 2009.