...One Individual can influence the direction of history. Men such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington have all had made a profound impact on the direction of the country. Now, who was the most influential is subjective and hard to quantify, but the fact that each one of these men, at one point in time, changed the course of history cannot be denied. Here are some examples of how they did it. Benjamin Franklin, was one of the founding fathers. Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution and The Treaty of Paris. The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary war which changed the course of history forever. The power of negotiation was greatly needed for the advancements needed by America...
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...The First Party System: Why Thomas Jefferson was Responsible American History to 1877 Thomas Jefferson is responsible for dividing the Federalist party of the late 1700s and creating what is known today as the first party system. Thomas Jefferson, who supported a small national government and individual rights, changed American politics by advocating rights of small planters and western farmers to divide the nation once united behind Federalist ideals. By dividing the once united Federalist party into two separate groups, he was able to gain the support needed to take the office of the President away from the Federalist party. This feat was more than a challenge for Jefferson and would shape the structure of American political parties forever. (1) In 1788, George Washington was the first President of the United States and he chose two men with contrasting views on what the fate of the United States should be as part of his advisory board. Thomas Jefferson was chosen by Washington as the head of Department of State. Jefferson was a Virginian and diplomat, known for his views on small national government and representing the small planters and western farmers of America. George Washington then chose Alexander Hamilton as his secretary of the Treasury. Born and raised in the Caribbean, he worked for Washington as his aid during the revolutionary war and was a lawyer. Hamilton was known for his views on a strong national government. He favored merchants and financiers...
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...The article written by Robert E. McGlone called “John Adams and the Authorship of the Declaration of Independence is about how the Declaration of Independence was founded among John Adams and others including Thomas Jefferson. As history goes a bunch of men gathered together to create a foundation that governs the United States. Though out this article I learned Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had conflict between each other because Adams claimed that Jefferson stole his idea, which was the production of the Declaration of Independence. These allegations had not been brought up until Adams was 87 years old. As the article says, he mentions this thought in his autobiography, one cannot believe his point because there is no proof. Thomas Jefferson...
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...If we asked young students in a poll to reveal what they know about Thomas Jefferson, most responses would include mention of his presidency, his involvement with the founding fathers, and Monticello, his home in Virginia. The majority of students in the United States, college students included, have little to no knowledge of Jefferson’s personal life, as many historical records skim over the details. Although Jefferson was a fascinating president and founding father, his intrigue to historians extends into his personal life, in which he fathered many children, and lived a complicated life. Jon Meacham, an author and historian, uncovers these details in his book, Thomas Jefferson: President & Philosopher. In accordance with the modern practice of leaning towards biased history, or purifying details for teaching purposes, Meacham’s strong depiction of Thomas Jefferson’s personal life is...
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...The connection of the Jefferson Memorial to mythology can both be found in its architecture and purpose. It is part of an Architecture movement known as Neoclassical or Federal Architecture. Its purpose was to create a connection to ancient Roman republican society as well as the Greeks and their democratic values. It was also meant to create a new American mythos to enshrine values, illustrate manifest destiny, and show that the United States was created by divine providence just as Rome was founded. We can see this in many of our monuments and artwork from the time period, as well as in the way the American story is told and taught to us. The Jefferson Memorials construction began in 1939 when President Franklin Roosevelt laid its cornerstone and was completed in 1943. It is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson our third president and was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. It was...
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...impact on westward expansion and how did Jefferson's message to Congress (1803) show his vision for the new republic? The reasons why the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis Clark Expedition had an impact on the westward expansion, including the reasons why Thomas Jefferson arranged the journey, a summary of his vision for the new republic (Jefferson’s Secret Message) and the outcome of his vision as it relates to the Westward Expansion. “The portion of their country most important for us is exactly that which they do not inhabit. Their settlements are not on the Mississippi, but in the interior country. They have lately shown a desire to become agricultural; and this leads to the desire of buying implements and comforts. In the strengthening and gratifying of these wants, I see the only prospect of planting on the Mississippi itself, the means of its own safety. Duty has required me to submit these views to the judgment of the Legislature; but as their disclosure might embarrass and defeat their effect, they are committed to the special confidence of the two Houses.” (Jefferson, 1803) Taken from Thomas Jefferson’s Secret Message to Congress of 1803. This excerpt introduces the vision of Thomas...
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...Lim History 117A-06 Professor Prater April 21, 2014 John Adams was born in 1735 at Braintree, Massachusetts; he was the eldest of four brothers. He graduated from Harvard College (University) in 1755. Sometimes, John Adams was contradictory and outspoken, but he was a gentle husband to Abigail Adams. His wife was extremely intelligent and an advisor to her husband’s political career. One reason John Adams felt quite fortunate for his wife was because she was good on a federalist point of view and greatly influential in her husband’s political career because he lacked charisma and political charm. John Adams had a good political career before becoming president of the United States. Adams was well-educated and had diplomatic experience in France and Great Britain. John’s message in the following quotation: “On November 1, 1800, just before the election, Adams arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in the White House. On his second evening in its damp, unfinished rooms, he wrote his wife “Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.” Before becoming president, John Adams was a lawyer and his service fee was low, but he was proud that his political argument was published in several newspapers. Let me give some brief background on President Washington’s cabinet; he appointed two political leaders, Thomas Jefferson and...
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...Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1773 his birth place was Charlottesville, Virginia right outside the western edge of Great Britain’s empire. Thomas Jefferson was born into one of the most prominent families in Virginia. Jane Randolph Jefferson his mother, was a member of the Randolph clan. Peter Jefferson his father was a very skilled farmer and cartographer who created the first accurate map of the Province of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd born out of ten siblings. When Thomas Jefferson was a young boy his favorite activities were playing in the woods, practicing the violin and reading. At the age of nine his formal education started by studying Latin and Greek at a local private school run by William Douglas. At the age of 14, in 1757, he took up more study of the classical languages and literature and mathematics by James Maury. In 1760 Jefferson left home to attend the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Three years at William and...
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...Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates covers the American struggle against the Barbary Pirates on the North African coast that harassed shipping that went through the vital Strait of Gibraltar. Brain Kilmeade and Don Yaeger team up to write the book, having previously worked together on another American historical book, George Washington’s Secret Six. Both writers have experience writing various books including a 9 New York Times bestsellers. Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates begins in 1785, with the newly established United States trying to maintain peace, grow the economy, and promote the state of the American power across the world. American ships, the Dauphin and the Maria were captured sailing in the Mediterranean Sea by the Barbary Pirates from the North African Coast to enslave crews and the ships and contents within as prizes. Thomas Jefferson and John Adam, key individuals in early foreign policy and United States politics differed on their stances on how to solve the situation; Adams preferred to pay the ransoms and negotiate peace, whereas Jefferson wanted to solve the problem by force. The young United States government struggled to pay expensive tributes that the Barbary States demanded in exchange, but the crews of the Dauphin and the Maria were released after a decade of enslavement. Yet the failed policies of George...
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...different occupations, he is well spoken and articulate in his letter to Thomas Jefferson in which he argues against slavery. As a son of former slaves Benjamin Banneker explains why the social crimes that the colonies faced should apply to slaves as well. In the history of the United States, slavery is a part that the nation would like to overlook but we cannot. Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson about his feeling against slavery where he implements several cases of repetition and takes the point of view of Thomas Jefferson himself. Banneker uses repetition by starting every paragraph with Sir, this sir, or here sir. By starting with a phrase with sir, he shows respect to Thomas Jefferson. This also hints that Benjamin Banneker feels that Thomas Jefferson is a well enough respected man to make the decision of opposing slavery. Benjamin Banneker not only shows the utmost respect to Thomas Jefferson, but also takes the point of view of Jefferson’s struggle. This letter was written in 1791, 15 years after the declaration of independence was written. The Declaration of Independence was written because the colonies did not feel free and equal to the British and in the Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” Benjamin Banneker puts himself in Thomas Jefferson’s shoes and explains to Thomas Jefferson that he knows how Jefferson felt about the great valuation liberty and asks why it does not apply to...
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...Estate Deal That Made America Was the Louisiana Purchase really important? The Louisiana Purchase was the most significant real estate purchase in US history because It was 827,000 square feet. It was worth 15 million at the time and is now worth 235 million, and It gave the US more territory. “France had ceded the Territory to Spain”, The Louisiana Purchase and the Exploration, Early History by Ripley Hitchcock. Ripley Hitchcock reports that France had ceded to Spain because they wanted help from them. They did this because they wanted Spain to help them fight Britain in the war. “Later still France’s efforts to regain the Louisiana territory was successful under the guidance of Napoleon”, The Louisiana Purchase and the...
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...arguable the most important and wide known document in American history. On July 4, 1776 this document signaled America’s separation from the British Empire to the world. America is defined by the men and the minds, behind the declaration; most notably by the author, Thomas Jefferson. The boundaries of the government and rights of its citizens were crucial during the formation of this constitution since these principles were exactly the reason for the uprising of the original thirteen colonies. Thomas Jefferson dedicated most of his life to the crucial needs of America and its government in order to form a true republic of the people. Like many of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson strengthened his beliefs through personal studies and deep examination of European history. Many history books will tell that the contributing factors that formed Thomas Jefferson’s ideas of the identity of America were linked to events such as the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the British Country party. However, one man’s works continually surfaced in Jefferson’s political and even private writings. John Locke, a British Enlightenment philosopher, was repeatedly referenced in documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Notes on the State of Virginia, and the Summary View of the Rights of British America. Jefferson repeatedly used Locke’s concepts as would even sometimes use the exact same phrases. This would make Thomas Jefferson, the first ever American to plagiarize! The irony in this...
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...Historical Book Review: American Sphinx Thomas Jefferson stands as one of the greatest giants of American history symbolizing the vision that founded this nation whose soul and achievements have been searched and researched numerous times. In the biography American Sphinx authored by Joseph J Ellis, Jefferson’s life is evaluated at key points in his life rather than following the traditional biography format. Unlike the usual historical texts, Ellis focus delves deeper into capturing Jefferson’s character in 5 different episodes in his career covering twenty-seven years of his life. However, despite having strict chronological chapters, Ellis struggles stay within the bounds leaving many to believe the reading is cumbersome. Ellis declares that it is his “goal to catch Jefferson at propitious moments in his life, to zoom in on his thoughts and actions during those extended moments, [and] to focus on the values and convictions that reveal themselves in these specific historical contexts”. (Ellis, xi)...
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...Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. He was born on April 13th, 1743 into one of the most prominent families of Virginia’s planters elite. Jefferson began his formal education at the age of nine, studying Latin and Greek at a local private school run by the Reverend William Douglas. In 1757, at the age of fourteen, he took up further study of the classical languages as well as literature and mathematics. Later, the Anti-Federalist was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 and joined its radical bloc. In 1775, He attended the Second Continental Congress, which created the Continental Army and appointed Jefferson's fellow Virginian, George Washington, as its commander-in-chief. Furthermore, he went on to draft the Declaration of Independence, and following that served as the Vice President of the United States to John Adams (“Thomas Jefferson”)....
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...There are many writers in the American Revolutionary period that make a little flame of their own, but the best known is Thomas Jefferson. He is the first rock star of America. Thomas Jefferson was born April 13, 1743 in Albermarle, Virginia to his parents, who were wealthy landowners. His father died when he was 9 years old, and the land was willed to him. At 21 years old he managed his parents land in Monticello, Virginia. Being a landowner helped him understand how citizens, wanted to pursue personal choices in their lives. Growing crops and building his fortune, Thomas wanted to to keep the profits for himself. He saw how the British government taxed and hovered over the Virginia colonies blocking every step of the way to freedom. To educated himself further, he attended the college of William and Mary in Virginia from 1767-1775 studying to be lawyer. This was where he developed his...
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