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| {{Infobox_President | name=Thomas Jefferson | |||
| | nationality=American | |||
| | image=T Jefferson by Charles Willson Peale 1791 2.jpg | |||
| | order=3rd ] | |||
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| | term_end=], ] | |||
| | predecessor=] | |||
| | successor=] | |||
| | birth_date=], ] | |||
| | birth_place=] | |||
| | death_date=], ] | |||
| | death_place=] | |||
| | spouse= ] | |||
| | party=] | |||
| | vicepresident=] (1801-1805),<br>] (1805-1809) | |||
| | religion=] | |||
| | signature=Thomas Jefferson signature.gif | |||
| | order2=2nd ] | |||
| | term_start2=], ] | |||
| | term_end2=], ] | |||
| | predecessor2=] | |||
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| | president=] | |||
| |}} | |||
| '''Thomas Jefferson''' (], ] ] – ], ]) was the third ] (1801–1809), the principal author of the ] (1776), and one of the most influential ] for his promotion of the ideals of ]. Major events during his presidency include the ] (1803), the ] (1804–1806), and the failed ]. | |||
| As a political philosopher, Jefferson idealized the independent yeoman farmer as the exemplar of republican virtue, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states' rights and a strictly limited federal government. He supported the ] and was the author of the ] (1779, 1786). He was the eponym of ] and the founder and leader of the Jeffersonian Republican party (eventually to become known as the ]), which dominated the ] for a quarter-century. Jefferson served as the wartime ] (1779–1781), first ] (1789–1793), and second ] (1797–1801). | |||
| A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as an ], ], ], ], ], and the ], among other roles. President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962, saying, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House -- with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."<ref>April 29, 1962 dinner honoring 49 Nobel Laureates (''Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations'', 1988, from ''Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States'': John F. Kennedy, 1962, p. 347).</ref> | |||
| ==Appearance and temperament== | |||
| Jefferson was six feet, two-and-one-half inches (189 cm) in height, slender, erect and sinewy. He had angular features, a very ruddy complexion, ] hair and hazel-flecked, grey eyes. In later years, he was negligent in dress and loose in bearing. He was a poor public speaker who mumbled through his most important addresses. There was grace, nevertheless, in his manners; and his frank and earnest address, his quick sympathy (though he seemed cold to strangers), and his vivacious, desultory, informing talk gave him an engaging charm. He was a man of intense convictions and an emotional temperament. | |||
| "The Sage of Monticello" also cultivated an image that earned him the other nickname, "Man of the People". He affected a popular air by greeting White House guests in homespun attire like a robe and slippers. ], wife of James Madison (Jefferson's secretary of state), and Jefferson's daughters relaxed White House protocol and turned formal state dinners into more casual and entertaining social events. Although a foremost defender of a free press, Jefferson at times sparred with partisan newspapers and appealed to the people. | |||
| Jefferson's writings were utilitarian and evidenced great intellect, and he had an affinity for languages. He learned ] in order to translate ], and sent to ] for the originals. | |||
| As President, he discontinued the practice of delivering the ] in person, instead sending the address to Congress in writing (the practice was eventually revived by ]); he gave only two public speeches during his Presidency. He burned all of his letters between himself and his wife at her death, creating the portrait of a man who at times could be very private. Indeed, he preferred working in the privacy of his office than the public eye. | |||
| ==Early life and education== | |||
| Thomas Jefferson was born on ], ] (Gregorian N.S) into a prosperous Virginia family, the third of ten children. His mother was ], daughter of ], and a cousin of ]. Jefferson's father was ], a planter and surveyor who owned plantations in ] (Shadwell, then ].) | |||
| ] (1805)]] | |||
| In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school run by ], a Scottish minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studying Latin and Greek — as well as French. In 1757, when he was 14 years old, his father died. Jefferson inherited about 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land and dozens of ]. He built his home there, which eventually became known as ]. | |||
| After his father's death, he was taught at the school of the learned minister ] from 1758 to 1760. The school was in ] twelve miles from Shadwell, and Jefferson boarded with Maury's family. There he received a ] and studied history and science. | |||
| In 1760 Jefferson entered the ] in ] at the age of 16; he studied there for two years, graduating with highest honors in 1762. At William & Mary, he enrolled in the philosophy school and studied mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy under W&M Professor ], who introduced the enthusiastic Jefferson to the writings of the ], including ], ], and ] (Jefferson would later refer to them as the "three greatest men the world had ever produced"<ref>Merrill D. Peterson, ''Thomas Jefferson: Writings'', p. 1236</ref>). He also perfected his French, carried his Greek grammar book wherever he went, practiced the violin, and read ] and ]. A keen and diligent student, Jefferson displayed an avid curiosity in all fields and, according to family tradition, frequently studied fifteen hours a day. His closest college friend, John Page of Rosewell, reported that Jefferson "could tear himself away from his dearest friends, to fly to his studies." | |||
| In college, Jefferson was a member of the secret ], now the namesake of the William & Mary daily student newspaper. He lodged and boarded at the College in the building known today as the Sir Christopher ], attending communal meals in the Great Hall and morning and evening prayers in the Wren Chapel. After graduating in 1762 with highest honors, he studied law with his friend and mentor, ], and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1767. | |||
| In 1772, Jefferson married a widow, ] (1748-82). They had six children: ] (1772-1836), Jane Randolph (1774-1775), a stillborn or unnamed son (1777-1777), Mary Wayles (1778-1804), Lucy Elizabeth (1780-1781), and Lucy Elizabeth (1782-1785). Martha Wayles Skelton died on ], ]. | |||
| ==Political career from 1774 to 1800== | |||
| ] preamble to the right]] | |||
| Jefferson practiced law and served in the Virginia ]. In 1774, he wrote , which was intended as instructions for the Virginia delegates to a national congress. The pamphlet was a powerful argument of American terms for a settlement with Britain. It helped speed the way to independence, and marked Jefferson as one of the most thoughtful patriot spokesmen. | |||
| Jefferson was the primary author of the ] and a contributor to American political and civil culture. The ] delegated the task of writing the Declaration to a ] that unanimously solicited Jefferson, considered the best writer, to write the first draft. | |||
| In September 1776, Jefferson returned to Virginia and was elected to the new ]. During his term in the House, Jefferson set out to reform and update Virginia's system of laws to reflect its new status as a democratic state. He drafted 126 bills in three years, including laws to abolish ], establish ], and streamline the judicial system. In 1778, Jefferson's "Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" led to several academic reforms at his ''alma mater'', including an elective system of study — the first in an American university. | |||
| ]'s famous painting is usually incorrectly identified as a depiction of the signing of the Declaration. What the painting actually depicts is the five-man drafting committee presenting their work to the Congress. Trumbull's painting can also be found on the back of the U.S. ].<ref>http://www.americanrevolution.org/deckey.html</ref>]] | |||
| Jefferson served as ] from 1779-1781. As governor, he oversaw the transfer of the state capitol from Williamsburg to the more central location of ] in 1780. He continued to advocate educational reforms at the College of William and Mary, including the nation's first student-policed ]. In 1779, at Jefferson's behest, William and Mary appointed ] to be the first professor of law in an American university. Dissatisfied with the rate of changes he wanted to push through, he would go on later in life to become the ] and founder of the ], which was the first university at which higher education was completely separate from religious doctrine. | |||
| Virginia was invaded twice by the British during Jefferson's term as governor. He, along with ] and other Virginia Patriot leaders, were but ten minutes away from being captured by ], a British colonel leading a cavalry column that was raiding the area in June 1781.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bennett|first=William J.|authorlink=William Bennett|title=America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I): From the Age of Discovery to a World at War|publisher=Nelson Current|year=2006|pages=99 |chapter=The Greatest Revolution|id= ISBN 1-59555-055-0}}</ref> Public disapproval of his performance delayed his future political prospects, and he was never again elected to office in Virginia.<ref>Ferling, John ''Adams vs Jefferson'' 2004 p 26</ref> | |||
| From 1785–1789, Jefferson served as minister to ]. He did not attend the ]. He did generally support the new Constitution, although he thought the document flawed for lack of a ]. | |||
| After returning from France, Jefferson served as the first ] under ] (1789–1793). Jefferson and ] began sparring over national ], especially the funding of the debts of the war. In further sparring with the Federalists, Jefferson came to equate Hamilton and the rest of the Federalists with Tories and monarchists who threatened to undermine republicanism. In the late 1790s, he worried that "Hamiltonianism" was taking hold. He equated this with "Royalism", and made a point to state that "Hamiltonians were panting after...and itching for crowns, coronets and mitres".<ref>Ferling p 59</ref> Jefferson and ] founded and led the Republican party, which eventually became ]. He worked with Madison and his campaign manager ] to build a nationwide network of Republican allies to combat Federalists across the country--what historians call the ]. | |||
| Jefferson strongly supported France against Britain when war broke out between those nations in 1793. Historian Lawrence S. Kaplan notes Jefferson's "visceral support for the French cause," while agreeing with Washington that the nation should not get involved in the fighting. <ref> "Foreign Affairs," in Peterson, ed. ''Thomas Jefferson: A Reference Encyclopedia'' (1986) p 325 </ref> The arrival in 1793 of an aggressive new French minister, ] caused a crisis for the Secretary of State, as he watched Genêt try to violate American neutrality, manipulate public opinion, and even go over Washington's head in appealing to the people; projects which Jefferson helped to thwart. As Schachner observes that Jefferson believed that political success at home depended on the success of the French army in Europe:<ref> Schachner 1:495</ref> | |||
| :Jefferson still clung to his sympathies with France and hoped for the success of her arms abroad and a cordial compact with her at home. He was afraid that any French reverses on the European battlefields would give "wonderful vigor to our monocrats, and unquestionably affect the tone of administering our government. Indeed, I fear that if this summer should prove disastrous to the French, it will damp that energy of republicanism in our new Congress, from which I had hoped so much reformation." | |||
| Jefferson at the end of 1793 retired to Monticello where he continued to orchestrate opposition to Hamilton and Washington. However, the ] of 1794, orchestrated by Hamilton, brought peace and trade with Britain--while Madison, with strong support from Jefferson, wanted, Miller says, "to strangle the former mother country" without actually going to war. "It became an article of faith among Republicans that 'commercial weapons' would suffice to bring Great Britain to any terms the United States chose to dictate." Jefferson, in retirement, strongly encouraged Madison.<ref> Miller (1960), 143-4, 148-9. </ref> | |||
| As the Republican candidate in 1796 he lost to ], but had enough electoral votes to become ] (1797–1801). He wrote a manual of parliamentary procedure, but otherwise avoided the Senate. | |||
| ], ]]] | |||
| With a ] with France underway (that is, an undeclared naval war), the ] under ] started a navy, built up the army, levied new taxes, readied for war and enacted the ] in 1798. Jefferson interpreted the Alien and Sedition Acts as an attack on his party more than on dangerous enemy aliens; they were used to attack his party, most notably ], Congressman from ]. He and Madison rallied support by anonymously writing the ] which declared that the federal government had no right to exercise powers not specifically delegated to it by the states. Should the federal government assume such powers, its acts under them could be voided by a state. The Resolutions' importance lies in being the first statements of the ] theory that led to the later concepts of ] and ]. | |||
| Working closely with ] of New York, Jefferson rallied his party, attacking the new taxes especially, and ] in 1800. Consistent with the traditions of the times, he did not formally campaign for the position. Prior to the passage of the ], a problem with the new union's electoral system arose. He tied with Burr for first place in the ], leaving the ] (where the lame duck Federalists still had some power) to decide the election. | |||
| After lengthy debate within the Federalist-controlled House, Hamilton convinced his party that Jefferson would be a lesser political evil than Burr and that such scandal within the electoral process would undermine the still-young regime. The issue was resolved by the House, on ], ] after thirty-six ballots, when Jefferson was elected President and Burr Vice President. Burr's refusal to remove himself from consideration would create a divide between Jefferson and Burr and lead to Jefferson replacing Burr as Vice President in Jefferson's second term. | |||
| ==Presidency 1801-1809== | |||
| Jefferson's Presidency, from 1801 to 1809, was the first to start and end in the ] (though at the time it was known as the Presidential Mansion). | |||
| ===Inauguration and Beliefs=== | |||
| Jefferson's term was marked by his belief in ], ], and ]. He insisted that his Republican party was the true expression of ]. | |||
| ===Continuation of Federalist policies=== | |||
| Jefferson continued the basic Hamiltonian programs of the national bank, tariffs, and funding the national debt. The Sedition Act expired on schedule in 1801, and one of the Alien acts was repealed. | |||
| ===Patronage, Congress=== | |||
| Jefferson systematically identified and removed federalist office holders. He created the military academy at West Point to train a new cadre of republican officers. His floor leader in the House was ]. | |||
| ===Judiciary=== | |||
| Jefferson was highly suspicious of the judges appointed by his predecessors; his opinion of good judges was much higher: one of his arguments for a bill of rights would be the power they would give the judiciary<ref>: "In the arguments in favor of a declaration of rights, you omit one which has great weight with me, the legal check which it puts into the hands of the judiciary. This is a body, which if rendered independent & kept strictly to their own department merits great confidence for their learning & integrity. In fact what degree of confidence would be too much for a body composed of such men as Wythe, Blair & Pendleton?." </ref> He repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, abolishing numerous courts. He orchestrated the impeachment of one Federalist judge but the Senate refused to convict a more important target, Justice Chase. Jefferson was frustrated when the Supreme Court handed him a nominal victory in ], while also seizing control of the interpretation of the Constitution. | |||
| ===Foreign Policy; Louisiana Purchase=== | |||
| Jefferson continued the ], and kept the Federalist minister in London to continue negotiations on debts and boundaries, which were mostly successful. | |||
| *] (1803) | |||
| ===Lewis and Clark=== | |||
| He commissioned the ] during his first term. | |||
| *Creation of the ] (1804) | |||
| ===Reelection=== | |||
| Jefferson was re-elected in the ]. | |||
| ===Quids=== | |||
| Congressman ], starting as Jefferson's leader in the House, broke with the president and called for a return to the "principles of '98," and a small weak national government. Randolph was supported by ] and other Southerners, known as "Old Republicans" (or sometimes called ].) They failed to link up with the Federalist minority, and proved an ineffective opposition. <ref>Smelser (1968) ch 3-5</ref> Jefferson was easily reelected in 1804. His second term was dominated by foreign policy concerns, as American neutrality was imperiled by war between Britain and France. <ref>Smelser (1968) ch 7-8</ref> | |||
| ===Relations with Europe=== | |||
| *], an attempt to force respect for U.S. ] by ending trade with the belligerents in the ] | |||
| ===Slavery Trade, Pirates=== | |||
| *Outlawing of the external ] (1808)<ref></ref> | |||
| *] (1801-1805) | |||
| Throughout his two terms, Jefferson did not once use his power of ].<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0801767.html</ref> | |||
| ] doubled the size of the United States]] | |||
| ===Speeches=== | |||
| ====]==== | |||
| * (4 March 1801) | |||
| * (4 March 1805) | |||
| ====]==== | |||
| * (8 December 1801) | |||
| * (15 December 1802) | |||
| * (17 October 1803) | |||
| * (8 November 1804) | |||
| * (3 December 1805) | |||
| * (2 December 1806) | |||
| * (27 October 1807) | |||
| * (8 November 1808) | |||
| ===Administration and Cabinet=== | |||
| {| cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4" style="margin:3px; border:3px solid #000000;" align="left" | |||
| !bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3"| | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|'''OFFICE'''||align="left"|'''NAME'''||align="left"|'''TERM''' | |||
| |- | |||
| !bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3"| | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left" |'''Thomas Jefferson'''||align="left"|1801–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1805 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1805–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| !bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3"| | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1804 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1805 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1805–1806 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1807–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1809 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"|]||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801 | |||
| |- | |||
| |align="left"| ||align="left"|''']'''||align="left"|1801–1810 | |||
| |} | |||
| <br clear="all"> | |||
| ===Supreme Court appointments=== | |||
| Jefferson appointed the following Justices to the ]: | |||
| *''']''' – 1804 | |||
| *''']''' – 1807 | |||
| *''']''' – 1807 | |||
| ===States admitted to the Union=== | |||
| *''']''' – March 1, 1803 | |||
| ==Father of a University== | |||
| ], ]]] | |||
| After leaving the Presidency, Jefferson continued to be active in public affairs. He also became increasingly obsessed with founding a new institution of higher learning, specifically one free of church influences where students could specialize in ] not offered at other universities. A letter to ], in January 1800, indicated that he had been planning the university for decades before its establishment. | |||
| His dream was realized in 1819, with the founding of the ]. Upon its opening in 1825, it was then the first university to offer a full slate of elective courses to its students. One of the largest construction projects to that time in North America, it was notable for being centered about a library rather than a church. In fact, no campus chapel was included in his original plans. Until his death, he invited university students and faculty of the school to his home; ] was among them. | |||
| The university was designed as the capstone of the educational system of Virginia. In his vision, any citizen of the ] could attend school with the sole criterion being ability. | |||
| ==Jefferson's death== | |||
| ] | |||
| Jefferson died on the ], ], the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as ]' death. Thomas Jefferson was deep in debt when he died. His possessions were sold at auction. In 1831, Jefferson's 552 acres (223 hectares) were sold for $7,000 to ]. Thomas Jefferson is buried on his ] estate, in ]. In his will, he left Monticello to the United States to be used as a school for orphans of navy officers. His ], written by him with an insistence that only his words and "not a word more" be inscribed, reads: | |||
| {| align="center" cellpadding=4 | |||
| | |<center> | |||
| :''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'' | |||
| </center> | |||
| |} | |||
| ==Interests and activities== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Jefferson was an accomplished ] who was extremely influential in bringing the ] style—popular among the ] aristocracy of Britain—to the United States. The style was associated with Enlightenment ideas of ]an civic virtue and political liberty. Jefferson designed his famous home, ], near ]; it included automatic doors, the first ], and other convenient devices invented by Jefferson. Nearby is the only university ever to have been founded by a U.S. president, the ], of which the original ] and architecture Jefferson designed. Today, Monticello and the University of Virginia are together one of only four man-made ]s in the United States of America. Jefferson also designed ], near ], in ], as a private retreat from a very public life. Jefferson is also credited with the architectural design of the ] building, which was modeled after the ] at Nîmes in southern France, an ancient ]. Jefferson's buildings helped initiate the ensuing American fashion for ]. | |||
| Jefferson's interests included archeology, a discipline then in its infancy. He has sometimes been called the ''"]"'' in recognition of his role in developing ] techniques. When exploring an ] burial mound on his Virginia estate in 1784, Jefferson avoided the common practice of simply digging downwards until something turned up. Instead, he cut a wedge out of the mound so that he could walk into it, look at the layers of occupation, and draw conclusions from them. | |||
| Thomas Jefferson enjoyed his fish pond at Monticello. It was around three feet (1 m) deep and mortar lined. He used the pond to keep fish that were recently caught as well as to keep eels fresh. This pond has been restored and can be seen from the west side of Monticello. | |||
| In 1780, he joined ]'s ]. He served as president of the society from 1797 to 1815. | |||
| Jefferson was an avid ] lover and noted gourmet. During his years in ] (1784-1789) he took extensive trips through French and other ]an wine regions and sent the best back home. He is noted for the bold pronouncement: "We could in the United States make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good." While there were extensive vineyards planted at Monticello, a significant portion were of the European wine grape '']'' and did not survive the many vine diseases native to the Americas. | |||
| In 1812, he wrote that is still in use. | |||
| After the British burned Washington, D.C. and the ] in August 1814, Jefferson offered his own collection to the nation. In January 1815, Congress accepted his offer, appropriating $23,950 for his 6,487 books, and the foundation was laid for a great national library. Today, the ]' website for federal legislative information is named THOMAS, in honor of Jefferson. | |||
| ==Political philosophy== | |||
| ], ] letter to ], Jefferson expressed his faith in mankind and his views on the nature of democracy.]] | |||
| Jefferson was a leader in developing ]. The idea was that the British aristocratic system was inherently corrupt and that Americans devotion to civic virtue required independence. In the 1790s he repeatedly warned that Hamilton and Adams were trying to impose a British-like monarchical system that threatened republicanism. Jefferson's vision for American virtue was that of an agricultural nation of ] farmers minding their own affairs. It stood in contrast to the vision of ], who envisioned a nation of commerce and manufacturing, which Jefferson said offered too many temptations to corruption. Jefferson's deep belief in the uniqueness and the potential of America made him the father of ]. In particular, he was confident that an under-populated America could avoid what he considered the horrors of class-divided, industrialized Europe. Jefferson was influenced heavily by the ideas of many European Enlightenment thinkers. His political principles were heavily influenced by the ] of 19th century opposition figures. He also was influence by ] (particularly relating to the principle of ]. Historians find few traces of any influence by his French contemporary, ].<ref> ], ''The Machiavellian Moment: Florentine Political Thought and the Atlantic Republican Tradition'' (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1975), 533; see also Richard K. Matthews, ''The Radical Politics of Thomas Jefferson'', (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1986), p. 17, 139n.16. </ref> | |||
| His opposition to the National Bank of the United States was epitomized by his famous quote from a letter to John Taylor, "And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."<ref>Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor. In Jefferson, T., & Randolph, T. J. (1829). Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of Thomas Jefferson. Letter CXXXI, Monticello, May 28, 1816, p. 277. Charlottesville: F. Carr.</ref> | |||
| Jefferson believed that each individual has "certain inalienable rights." That is, these rights exist with or without government; man cannot create, take, or give them away. It is the right of "]" on which Jefferson is most notable for expounding. He defines it by saying "rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’, because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."<ref>Letter to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819</ref> Hence, for Jefferson, though government cannot ''create'' a right to liberty, it can indeed violate it. And the limit of an individual's rightful liberty is not what law says it is but is simply a matter of stopping short of prohibiting other individuals from having the same liberty. A proper government, for Jefferson, is one that not only prohibits individuals in society from infringing on the liberty of other individuals, but also restrains ''itself'' from diminishing individual liberty. | |||
| Jefferson's commitment to equality was expressed in his successful efforts to abolish ] in Virginia, the rule by which the first born son inherited all the land.<ref>Brown 1954 pp 51-2</ref> | |||
| Jefferson believed that individuals have an innate sense of ] that prescribes right from wrong when dealing with other individuals—that whether they choose to restrain themselves or not, they have an innate sense of the natural rights of others. He even believed that moral sense to be reliable enough that an ] society could function well, provided that it was reasonably small. On several occasions, he expressed admiration for ], communal way of living of ]s:<ref></ref> | |||
| He said in a ''letter to Colonel Carrington'': "I am convinced that those societies (as the Indians) which live without government, enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments." However, Jefferson believed ] to be "inconsistent with any great degree of population.".<ref>'', 30 Jan 1787''</ref> Hence, he did advocate government for the American expanse provided that it exists by "consent of the governed." | |||
| In the Preamble to his original draft of the ], Jefferson wrote: | |||
| {{Cquote|''We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these ends, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government shall become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, & to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles & organising its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety & happiness.''<ref></ref>}} | |||
| Jefferson's dedication to "consent of the governed" was so thorough that he believed that individuals could not be morally bound by the actions of preceding generations. This included debts as well as law. He said that "no society can make a perpetual constitution or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation." He even calculated what he believed to be the proper cycle of legal revolution: "Every constitution then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it is to be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right." He arrived at 19 years through calculations with expectancy of life tables, taking into account what he believed to be the age of "maturity"—when an individual is able to reason for himself.<ref>'', 6 September 1789''</ref> He also advocated that the ] should be eliminated. He did not believe that living individuals had a moral obligation to repay the debts of previous generations. He said that repaying such debts was "a question of generosity and not of right".<ref>'', 6 Sep 1789</ref> | |||
| Jefferson's very strong defense of ], especially in the ] of 1798, set the tone for hostility to expansion of federal powers. However, some of his foreign policies did in fact strengthen the government. Most important was the ] in 1803, when he used the implied powers to annex a huge foreign territory and all its French and Indian inhabitants. His enforcement of the ], while it failed in terms of foreign policy, demonstrated that the federal government could intervene with great force at the local level in controlling trade that might lead to war. | |||
| Jefferson was influenced by ]'s book ''De optimo senatore'', and in his works paraphrased some of Goslicki's phrases from the book. | |||
| ===Views on the judiciary=== | |||
| Although trained as a lawyer, Jefferson was never comfortable in court. He believed that judges should be technical specialists but should not set policy. He denounced the 1801 Supreme Court ruling in ] as a violation of democracy, but he did not have enough support in Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment to overturn it. He continued to oppose the doctrine of ]: | |||
| {{Cquote|''To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have with others the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps. Their maxim is ''boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem'' , and their power the more dangerous as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control. The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots. It has more wisely made all the departments co-equal and co-sovereign within themselves.''<ref>Letter to William C. Jarvis, 1820</ref>}} | |||
| ===Church and state=== | |||
| For Jefferson, separation of church and state was not an abstract right but a necessary reform of the religious "tyranny" of one Christian sect over many other Christians. Jefferson tried re-instating a new religion for all to use, but this idea quickly failed and Jefferson was almost removed from office. | |||
| Following the Revolution, Jefferson played a leading role in the disestablishment of religion in Virginia. Previously the Anglican Church had tax support. As he wrote in his ''Notes on Virginia'', a law was in effect in Virginia that "if a person brought up a Christian denies the being of a God, or the Trinity …he is punishable on the first offense by incapacity to hold any office …; on the second by a disability to sue, to take any gift or legacy …, and by three year' imprisonment." Prospective officer-holders were required to swear that they did not believe in the central Roman Catholic doctrine of ]. | |||
| From 1784 to 1786, Jefferson and James Madison worked together to oppose ]'s attempts to again assess taxes in Virginia to support churches. Instead, in 1786, the ] passed Jefferson's '']'', which he had first submitted in 1779 and was one of only three accomplishments he put in his own epitaph. The law read: | |||
| {{Cquote|''No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.''<ref>Merrill D. Peterson, ed., ''Thomas Jefferson: Writings'' (1984), p. 347</ref>}} | |||
| One of Jefferson’s least well known writings is: "I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature.....Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make half the world fools and half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the world"- Thomas Jefferson, in his Notes on Virginia. | |||
| Jefferson sought what he called a "wall of separation between Church and State", which he believed was a principle expressed by the ]. This phrase has been cited several times by the Supreme Court in its interpretation of the ].<ref>Reynolds (98 U.S. at 164, 1879); Everson (330 U.S. at 59, 1947); McCollum (333 U.S. at 232, 1948) </ref> In an 1802 letter to the ] ] Association, he wrote: | |||
| {{Cquote|''Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a ] between church and State.''<ref>], ], ]</ref>}} | |||
| He used the phrase "wall of separation" again in an 1808 letter to Virginia Baptists: | |||
| {{Cquote|''Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state,' therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.<ref> Letter to the Virginia Baptists (1808)</ref>}} | |||
| During his Presidency, Jefferson refused to issue proclamations calling for days of prayer and thanksgiving. Moreover, his private letters indicate he was skeptical of too much interference by ] in matters of civil government. His letters contain the following observations: "History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government",<ref>Letter to ], ], ]</ref> and, "In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the ], abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."<ref>Letter to ], ], ]</ref> "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government".<ref>Letter to ] ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Jefferson and slavery== | |||
| ].]] | |||
| ].]] | |||
| Records show that Jefferson owned many slaves over his lifetime. Some find it hypocritical that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves yet was outspoken in saying that slavery was immoral and it should be abolished. In the Declaration of Independence, he states that " All men are created equal", yet he owned slaves himself. | |||
| During his long career in public office, Jefferson attempted numerous times to abolish or limit the advance of slavery. According to a biographer, Jefferson "believed that it was the responsibility of the state and society to free all slaves".<ref>Willard Sterne Randall, ''Thomas Jefferson: A Life''. p 593.</ref> In 1769, as a member of the ], Jefferson proposed for that body to emancipate slaves in Virginia, but he was unsuccessful.<ref> at the Library of Congress.</ref> In his first draft of the ] (1776), Jefferson condemned the British crown for sponsoring the importation of slavery to the colonies, charging that the crown "has waged cruel war against ] itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another ]." However, this language was dropped from the Declaration at the request of delegates from ] and ]. | |||
| In 1778, the legislature passed a bill he proposed to ban further importation of slaves into Virginia; although this did not bring complete ], in his words, it "stopped the increase of the evil by importation, leaving to future efforts its final eradication." In 1784, Jefferson's draft of what became the ] stipulated that "there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude" in any of the new states admitted to the Union from the ].<ref> Lalor Cyclopædia of Political Science</ref> In 1807, he signed a bill abolishing the ]. Jefferson attacked the institution of slavery in his '']'' (1784): | |||
| {{Cquote|''There must doubtless be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.<ref>''Notes on the State of Virginia'', Ch 18.</ref>''}} | |||
| In this same work, Jefferson advanced his suspicion that ] were inferior to ] "in the endowments both of body and mind".<ref>''Notes on the State of Virginia'' Query 14</ref> He also wrote, "Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. the two races...cannot live in the same government. Nature, habit, opinion has drawn indelible lines of distinction between them." According to historian ]: "Jefferson, like all slaveholders and many other white members of American society, regarded Negroes as inferior, childlike, untrustworthy and, of course, as property. Jefferson, the genius of politics, could see no way for African-Americans to live in society as free people. He embraced the worst forms of racism to justify slavery."<ref> by Stephen E. Ambrose.</ref> | |||
| Most of Jefferson's slaves were sold after his death to pay his many debts. Edmund Bacon, the chief overseer of Monticello for twenty years, told his biographer that he believed Jefferson would have freed all his slaves in his will, but was too far in debt.<ref> by Captain Edmund Bacon.</ref> | |||
| ===The Sally Hemings controversy=== | |||
| :''For more details on this topic, see ] and ].'' | |||
| Although Jefferson wrote regarding ], "The amalgamation of whites with blacks produces a degradation to which no lover of his country, no lover of excellence in the human character, can innocently consent," a subject of considerable controversy since Jefferson's time is whether he was the father of any of the children of his slave ]. Hemings was likely the half-sister of Jefferson's deceased wife ]. The allegation that Jefferson fathered children with Hemings first gained widespread public attention in 1802, when journalist James T. Callender, wrote in a Richmond newspaper, "... keeps and for many years has kept, as his concubine, one of his slaves. Her name is Sally." Jefferson never responded publicly about this issue but is said to have denied it in his private correspondence.{{fact}} | |||
| A 1998 ] study concluded that there was a DNA link between some of Hemings descendants and the Jefferson family, but did not conclusively prove that Jefferson himself was their ancestor. Three studies were released in the early 2000s, following the publication of the DNA evidence. In 2000, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which runs Monticello, appointed a multi-disciplinary, 9-member in-house research committee of Ph.D.s and an M.D. to study the matter of the paternity of Hemings's children. The committee concluded "it is very unlikely that any Jefferson other than Thomas Jefferson was the father of children."<ref></ref> In 2001, the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society<ref></ref> commissioned a study by an independent 13-member Scholars Commission. The commission concluded that the Jefferson paternity thesis was not persuasive. The ''National Genealogical Society Quarterly'' then published articles reviewing the evidence from a genealogical perspective and concluded that the link between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings was valid.<ref>Helen F. M. Leary, "Sally Hemings's Children: A Genealogical Analysis of the Evidence," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 89, no. 3 (Sep. 2001), 165-207. </ref> | |||
| ==Monuments and memorials== | |||
| ] in ].]] | |||
| ].]] | |||
| *] ], the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, the ] was dedicated in ] The memorial combines a low ] saucer ] with a ]. The interior includes a 19 foot statue of Jefferson and engravings of passages from his writings. Most prominent are the words which are inscribed around the monument near the roof: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." | |||
| *Jefferson, together with ], ] and ], was chosen by President ] to be depicted in stone at the ]. | |||
| *Jefferson's portrait appears on the U.S. ], ], and the $100 Series EE ]. | |||
| *The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church (]) is located in ]. | |||
| *], ], the ] ship ''Thomas Jefferson'' was commissioned in ]. This was done in commemoration of his establishment of a Survey of the Coast, the predecessor to NOAA's ]. | |||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| *Jefferson and John Adams were the only signers of the Declaration of Independence to become Presidents. | |||
| *On ], ], the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Adams died at Quincy, after (allegedly) uttering the famous last words "Thomas Jefferson still survives." Unbeknownst to Adams, Jefferson had died five hours earlier. | |||
| *One of the most famous quotations attributed to Thomas Jefferson, "That government is best which governs least", was not from Jefferson at all. The quotation actually came from ] in '']''. | |||
| *A master horticulturist, Jefferson was an early grower of tomatoes (among seventy types of vegetables) when the fruit was considered dangerous. | |||
| *Jefferson had a ] and preferred writing to ] partly because of this. | |||
| *Jefferson kept two bear cubs given to him by Lewis and Clark housed in cages on the White House South Lawn. | |||
| *Likening himself to the third president, President ] remarked that Jefferson invented more words than any other president. | |||
| *He was portrayed by ] in '']'' and ] in ]. | |||
| *The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression chose Jefferson's name as embodying free speech, and it often works with the Jefferson-founded University of Virginia. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references/> | |||
| </div> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| ===Primary sources=== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| *''Thomas Jefferson: Writings: Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters'' (1984, ISBN 0-940450-16-X) ] edition; see discussion of sources at . There are numerous one-volume collections; this is perhaps the best place to start. | |||
| *''Thomas Jefferson, Political Writings'' ed by Joyce Appleby and Terence Ball. | |||
| * not as complete nor as accurate as Boyd edition, but covers TJ from birth to death. It is out of copyright, and so is online free. | |||
| * Edwin Morris Betts (editor), ''Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book,'' (Thomas Jefferson Memorial: December 1, 1953) ISBN 1-882886-10-0. Letters, notes, and drawings—a journal of plantation management recording his contributions to scientific agriculture, including an experimental farm implementing innovations such as horizontal plowing and crop-rotation, and Jefferson's own moldboard plow. It is a window to slave life, with data on food rations, daily work tasks, and slaves' clothing. The book portrays the industries pursued by enslaved and free workmen, including in the blacksmith's shop and spinning and weaving house. | |||
| * Boyd, Julian P. et al, eds. ''The Papers of Thomas Jefferson.'' The definitive multivolume edition; available at major academic libraries. 31 volumes covers TJ to 1800, with 1801 due out in 2006. See description at | |||
| * large collection of TJ quotations arranged by 9000 topics; searchable; copyright has expired and it is online free. | |||
| * The Thomas Jefferson Papers, 1606-1827, 27,000 original manuscript documents at the Library of Congress. | |||
| * Jefferson, Thomas. ''Notes on the State of Virginia'' (1787), London: Stockdale. This was Jefferson's only book. | |||
| **Shuffleton, Frank, ed., (1998) Penguin Classics paperback: ISBN 0140436677 | |||
| **Waldstreicher, David, ed., (2002) Palgrave Macmillan hardcover: ISBN 031229428X, | |||
| ** | |||
| * Cappon, Lester J., ed. ''The Adams-Jefferson Letters'' (1959). | |||
| * Howell, Wilbur Samuel, ed. ''Jefferson's Parliamentary Writings'' (1988). Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice, written when he was vice-President, with other relevant papers. | |||
| * Smith, James Morton, ed. ''The Republic of Letters: The Correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, 1776-1826'', 3 vols. (1995). | |||
| </div> | |||
| ===Biographies=== | |||
| * Appleby, Joyce. ''Thomas Jefferson'' (2003), short interpretive essay by leading scholar. | |||
| * Bernstein, R. B. ''Thomas Jefferson''. (2003) Well regarded short biography. | |||
| * Cunningham, Noble E. ''In Pursuit of Reason'' (1988) well-reviewed short biography | |||
| * ] ''American Sphinx'' (1996). Prize winning essays; assumes prior reading of a biography. | |||
| ** "American Sphinx: The Contradictions of Thomas Jefferson." essay by leading scholar online at | |||
| * ]. ''Jefferson and His Time'', 6 vols. (1948-82). Multi-volume biography of TJ by leading expert; . | |||
| * Onuf, Peter "The Scholars' Jefferson," ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 3d Series, L:4 (October 1993), 671-699. Historiographical review or scholarship about TJ; online through JSTOR at most academic libraries. | |||
| * Peterson; Merrill D. ''Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation'' (1975), a standard scholarly biography | |||
| * Peterson, Merrill D. ed. ''Thomas Jefferson: A Reference Biography'' (1986), 24 essays by leading scholars on aspects of Jefferson's career. | |||
| * Schachner, Nathan. ''Thomas Jefferson: A Biography'' (1951) 2 vol. | |||
| ===Academic studies=== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| * Adams, Henry. ''History of the United States of America during the Administration of Thomas Jefferson'' (1889; famous 4-volume history. | |||
| ** Wills, Garry, ''Henry Adams and the Making of America'' (2005), detailed analysis of Adams' ''History'' | |||
| * Banning, Lance. ''The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology'' (1978) | |||
| * Brown; Stuart Gerry. ''The First Republicans: Political Philosophy and Public Policy in the Party of Jefferson and Madison'' 1954. | |||
| * Channing; Edward. ''The Jeffersonian System: 1801-1811'' (1906), "American Nation" survey of political history | |||
| * Dunn, Susan. ''Jefferson's Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism'' (2004). | |||
| *Elkins; Stanley and Eric McKitrick. ''The Age of Federalism'' (1995) in-depth coverage of politics of 1790s. | |||
| * Ferling, John. ''Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800'' (2004). | |||
| * Finkelman, Paul. ''Slavery and the Founders: Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson'' (2001), esp ch 6-7. | |||
| * Horn, James P. P. Jan Ellen Lewis, and Peter S. Onuf, eds. ''The Revolution of 1800: Democracy, Race, and the New Republic'' (2002) 17 essays by scholars | |||
| * Jayne, Allen. ''Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy and Theology'' (2000); traces TJ's sources and emphasizes his incorporation of Deist theology into the Declaration. | |||
| * Lewis, Jan Ellen, and Onuf, Peter S., eds. ''Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson: History, Memory, Civic Culture''. (1999). | |||
| * McDonald, Forrest. ''The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson'' (1987) intellectual history approach to Jefferson's Presidency | |||
| * Matthews, Richard K. Midwest Studies in Philosophy, XXVIII (2004). | |||
| * Mayer, David N. ''The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson'' (2000). | |||
| * Onuf, Peter S. ''Jefferson's Empire: The Languages of American Nationhood''. (2000). | |||
| * Onuf, Peter S., ed. ''Jeffersonian Legacies''. (1993). | |||
| * Onuf, Peter. | |||
| * Peterson, Merrill D. ''The Jefferson Image in the American Mind'' (1960), how Americans interpreted and remembered Jefferson. | |||
| * Rahe, Paul A. "Thomas Jefferson's Machiavellian Political Science." ''Review of Politics'' 1995 57(3): 449-481. ISSN 0034-6705 Fulltext online at Jstor and Ebsco. Machiavelli's the '']'' set the context for Jefferson's republican views on limited government, the politics of distrust, populism, executive power, and a comprehensive legislative program for the state of Virginia. The Louisiana Purchase illustrated Jefferson's adherence to the Machiavellian principle that even a republic requires a prince capable of meeting emergencies. Jefferson also echoed the Machiavellian dictate that corruption and lethargy pose a significant threat to popular liberty. | |||
| * Sears, Louis Martin. ''Jefferson and the Embargo'' (1927), state by state impact. | |||
| * Sloan, Herbert J. ''Principle and Interest: Thomas Jefferson and the Problem of Debt'' (1995). Shows the burden of debt in Jefferson's personal finances and political thought. | |||
| * Smelser, Marshall. ''The Democratic Republic: 1801-1815'' (1968). "New American Nation" survey of political and diplomatic history | |||
| * ], ''John Marshall: Definer Of A Nation'', New York: Henry, Holt & Company, 1996. | |||
| * Taylor, Jeff. ''Where Did the Party Go?: William Jennings Bryan, Hubert Humphrey, and the Jeffersonian Legacy'' (2006), on Jefferson's role in Democratic history and ideology. | |||
| * Tucker, Robert W. and David C. Hendrickson. ''Empire of Liberty: The Statecraft of Thomas Jefferson'' (1992), foreign policy | |||
| * Wiltse, Charles Maurice. ''The Jeffersonian Tradition in American Democracy'' (1935), analysis of Jefferson's political philosophy | |||
| * | |||
| ====Jefferson and religion==== | |||
| *Gaustad, Edwin S. ''Sworn on the Altar of God: A Religious Biography of Thomas Jefferson'' (2001) Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, ISBN 0802801560 | |||
| *Sanford, Charles B. ''The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson'' (1987) University of Virginia Press, ISBN 0813911311 | |||
| *Sheridan, Eugene R. ''Jefferson and Religion'', preface by ], (2001) University of North Carolina Press, ISBN 1882886089 | |||
| </div> | |||
| ==External links and sources== | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Thomas Jefferson}} | |||
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| * with link to .pdf version of full report | |||
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| * at monticello.org | |||
| * {{CongBio|J000069}} | |||
| * by Claudio J. Katz | |||
| * at Liberty-Tree.ca | |||
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| *{{gutenberg author| id=Thomas+Jefferson+(1743-1826) | name=Thomas Jefferson}} | |||
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| * 5145KB zipped ASCII file | |||
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| | footnote=Prior to the passage of the ] in 1804, each Presidential elector would cast two ballots; the highest vote-getter would become President and the runner-up would become Vice President. Thus, in 1796, the ] fielded Jefferson as a Presidential candidate, but he came in second and therefore became Vice President.}} | |||
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