THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826)

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Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States. He is the author of the Declaration of Independence. The person whose name is known, was born from the belly of his mother in 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. His father? Certainly not the president nor any writer, but an investigator and also a successful farmer. As is usually a good father and not unconventional, he inherited a vast estate for the child. Jefferson studied at the College of William and Mary for two years, but somehow came out just before the title can be anything. After that he studied jurisprudence for several years and in 1767 he was placed in the judiciary Virginia. Jefferson seven years practicing law habit while wallowing in agriculture. At the same time he was also a member of "Burges" Virginia legislature.

The first important essay Jefferson A Summary View of the Rights of British America, on view in passing happenings rights of his American English. The essay was written in 1774. The following year he was elected a member of the Virginia delegation to attend the second Continental Congress, and in 1776 he began to make doodles draft the Declaration of Independence. At the end of the same year he returned to the Virginia legislature and play perananlah him there in terms of various important decisions regarding temporal changes a big problem. Two of his proposals is the Statute of Virginia for Religion Freedom and the Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge. The first concerns the laws regarding religious freedom in Virginia and the second concerns the legislation concerning dissemination of knowledge in general. The second one is clearly related to the educational needs of society.

  Jefferson proposals regarding education, among others: the provision of basic education to everyone; the establishment of a government university for those who are gifted deserve higher education; a system of scholarships. Jefferson's education plan is not accepted by the state of Virginia at the time, although similar plans later implemented by other countries without exception.

Legislation concerning religious freedom is impressive even admirable because it contains religious tolerance and at the same firmness the separation between religion and state. (Previously, the Anglican Church is the official religion in Virginia). Indeed, there is opposition to Jefferson's proposal but ultimately approved also by the legislature Virginia (1786). A similar idea immediately approved the law on human rights by other states, and finally it was agreed in the United States Constitution itself.

Jefferson finished Governor of Virginia from 1779 until 1781. Then he "retired" from political life. During this period he wrote ngaso only his Notes on the State of Virginia, particulars of the state of Virginia. This book contains, among others Jefferson firm attitude and the bright of the anti-slavery. 1782 Jefferson's wife died ten years after marriage and children and six. Although the widower Jefferson still quite young, but she did not marry again after that.

Then he hastily stopped from ngasonya and immersed herself in Congress. There its about individual things currency division of the weight and size corner (this was before the plan metric system, which is assessed by the meter length, weight assessed by the gram, the content assessed by the liter and so on) is rejected. He also proposed the banning of slavery in the entire state, but this proposal was rejected for lack of a voice!


1784 Jefferson visited France on a diplomatic mission. Once there so he replaced Benjamin Franklin so the American ambassador to France. Five years he lived in France, known only she absent from political activity within the United States including when the constitution was drafted and approved. Jefferson welcomed the ratification of the constitution, and like the other leaders, he was absolutely convinced laws that guarantee human rights should be included in the constitution.

  Jefferson returned to the country in late 1789 and immediately appointed to korsi Minister of Foreign Affairs. In developing the cabinet forum fierce differences between Jefferson with Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. They are different schools of political views.

On a national scale political supporters Hamilton joined to form the Federal Party, while Jefferson's political supporters joined to form the Democratic-Republican Party which later evolved into the Democratic Party that we know today.

1796 Jefferson become a candidate for President, but the second after John Adams. Under the provisions of the constitution in force at the time, by itself he only occupied the Vice President. New in 1800 he advanced again and he finished victorious defeating President John Adams.

As President, Jefferson moderate doing fine against the former political opponents, and thus instilling a culture of political tradition for the United States in subsequent periods. The peak of the peak of a legacy he gave during the presidential term is a step in the purchase of Louisiana, which resulted in making the United States is almost double the breadth. Louisiana Purchase may be a transfer of ownership of the largest area peacefully throughout history. This in turn makes the United States a large and powerful country in the world, Hence the term has significance far. Jefferson Suppose a charge of affairs that the Louisiana purchase, could so I put him over the top in the order of the list now. But, I believe, the French leader Napoleon Banaparte, in decision-making intricate steps and selling area to the United States is that most people grasp the role. Instead of Jefferson. If ever there was an American who had a major role in these transactions, it was not Jefferson, because Jefferson never had chimera purchased land so vast. Yang-closest is the US mission in Paris, Robert Livingstone and James Monroe were so smelt nice and profitable opportunity to negotiate the sale, he sped past diplomatic instructions available to him and engage in buy-sell agreement. (It is interesting that in the note posted on the tombstone, Jefferson did not include the purchase of Louisiana as one of the results of his achievements, but notes that he himself wrote).

Jefferson was re-elected as President in 1804, but in 1808 he berkeputusan not want to be president for a third time. Means he strengthened step ever taken by George Washington. Jefferson retired in 1809 and the only next step nature of government activities was to establish the University of Virginia (inaugurated in 1819). With so he could see part of the plan ever proposed in the new parliament despite realized Virginia forty-three years later. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, on the fifth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, after a journey filled with struggle --dan also kebahagiaan-- for more than eighty-three years. His talent in addition to a lot of political talent. He mastered five or six foreign languages, he serious enthusiasts natural sciences and mathematics, he was a successful farmer who wallow in the way of scientific agriculture. And also he is the producer of goods, an inventor although small in size and also a clever architect.

Due to the talent and personal qualities that are so prominent, often exaggerated the vote, beyond the actual effect she had had in history. If we want to accurately assess the significance, perhaps we should depart from the particulars of the Declaration of Independence, because the level planners considered it a great work Jefferson. First it should be noted the Declaration of Independence was not part of the legal government of the United States because of its importance lies in the fact that the declaration was a spontaneous outburst of American ideals. Moreover, the ideals contained therein are not original ideas, but most of Jefferson derived from the writings of John Locke. The Declaration of Independence is not a genuine philosophy of the original, and also does not meant that it is a concise statement of belief that has become a fad many Americans.

Nor is it because of the greatness of Jefferson in the preparation of sentences declaration that encourages Americans proclaimed its independence. The Revolutionary War was essentially broke the month April 1775 (more than a year before the Declaration of Independence) which stems from the battle of Lexington and Concord. In the months after the battle, the American colonies faced a critical decision: should they should be demanding immediate independence or have to compromise with the British government? In the spring of 1776, chose the first alternative passion grew stronger in the Continental Congress. Nor Jefferson but Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7 officially proposed that colonized America declared itself independent from Britain. Congress took the decision to postpone the vote on the proposal of resolution Lee several weeks and formed a committee led by Jefferson to draw up a general statement of the reasons for declaring independence. (Other committee members wisely invited Jefferson drafted a declaration alone). Congress hears again shows resolution Lee on July 1 and the next day when the ballot proposal was accepted unanimously. In voting on July 2 that the critical decisions regarding the declaration of independence solved. New after it diterimalah draft resolution to be debated Jefferson arrangement. The resolution was received by Congress (with some changes) two days later, on July 4, 1776.

When the Declaration of Independence is considered not as important as people think generally, if there are other works that can be placed in a high position in this list? In a note on his tombstone, Jefferson mention two works which he hoped could be remembered. First, its role in relation to the establishment of the University of Virginia, although in fact it is not so decisive, is nonetheless not sufficient condition for its inclusion in the list of this order. Secondly, his work as a writer Statute of Virginia for Religions Freedom is capable of properly qualified and have meaning. Of course, the general notion of religious freedom has been coined by many famous philosophers before Jefferson, including John Locke and Voltaire. But the legislation is more advanced than the idea that recommended Locke. Furthermore, Jefferson an active politician who managed to realize his mind into the form of laws, and proposed Jefferson affect other states when they make laws concerning human rights.

It's tempting further question: to what extent the shares donated Jefferson in terms of the passage of legislation on the federal rights? Jefferson is representative of those who love the guarantee rights and indeed he was one of the intellectual leaders of the group. However, Jefferson was not in the country between 1784 until the end of 1789, so it certainly was not involved when the debate speech rights in difficult-difficult times ahead konstritusi convention. James Madison was the one who hold key roles and successfully amended through Congress. (Congress passed amendments to the September 25, 1789, before Jefferson returned to the United States).

It may be said, not an action step resini Jefferson, but his attitudes most in influencing the United States. But, still can doubt the extent to which the ideas of Jefferson accepted by the American people. The crowds were flattering name of Thomas Jefferson, supporting political wisdom, which is precisely contrary to the opinion of Jefferson himself. For example, Jefferson was convinced by what we now call "small government." A characteristic expression (derived from the inaugural address): "... that is a wise and economical administration that would prevent people from hurting others, which will provide flexibility freely adjust the desire of industry and improvement of life ..." Maybe Jefferson correct starting point, but elections in the past forty years show that his words did not convince the majority of Americans. The second example. Jefferson fiercely oppose the view that the final authority to interpret the Constitution lies in the hands of the Supreme Court, which could also thus unconstitutional a law that has been agreed despite Congress. Opinions of this kind, he thought, contrary to the principle of democratic pemeritahan.

But if people are too fascinated by the trees, he would lose the overall view of the forest. If people want to backtrack a little step and try to assess the Jefferson career in a larger scale, people will soon be able to see why Jefferson described as "a spokesman for the freedom of man who stands out."

Should Thomas Jefferson placed higher or lower than George Washington? American independence and democratic institutions established by the joint effort of people are full of ideas and the people who work hard. If both are equally important, I believe the general idea is the more important contribution factor. On the executive side, George Washington clearly plays a dominant role. Tribute to those who sparked the idea should --mau not want - divided among sejunilah people, including Americans like Jefferson and James Madison and the people of Europe such as John Locke, Voltaire and many others.