Thomas+Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson - The Third President of the United States
-__Second Vice President of the United States:__ Held under President John Adams (1797-1801) -__First United States Secretary of State:__ Held under Presidetn George Washington (1790-1793) -__United States Ambassador to France:__ Appointed by the Congress of Confederation (1785-1789) -__Delegate: Second Continental Congress:__ Represententing the state of Virginia (1775-1776)
 * BORN:** April 14, 1743
 * DIED:** July 4, 1826
 * In office:** March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809
 * Vice President(s**): Aaron Burr & George Clinton [[image:48329048914810.jpg align="right"]]
 * Political Party:** Democratic-Republican Party
 * Previous Political Positions:**

Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
﻿Thomas Jefferson began his reign as President of the United States in March of 1801, while America was still blooming after becoming an independent and growing nation. A few major events that had happened during Jefferson's Presidency:
 * **The Louisiana Purchase: (1803)**The United States doubled it size through acquisition from France's Louisiana territory. The United States payed $15 million dollars for the territory ($219 million dollars today) Gained fourteen out of America's current 50 states; The purchase of this territory was a very important moment to Jefferson because the possibility of purchasing the territory was almost considered unconstiutional.
 * **Lewis & Clark Expedition: (1803)**Expedition across the country in the west led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired western land. Jefferson wanted to expand the western frontier and see how far west water was to pursue commerce.
 * **Marbury v. Madison: (1803)** First time the Supreme Court declared something 'unconstitutional' - the court couldn't decide on the case because of it was out of it's jurisdictional rights; established the concept of judicial review in the courts (the idea that courts may oversee and override the actions of another branch of government) - Ruled under the Marshall court.
 * **Industrialism during the Jeffersonian Era:** Jefferson and his followers wanted a simple republic, but the nation instead took their republic in a more urban way. The cotton gin was discovered and caused the economies of both the North & South to flourish, and their cities to grow even more. Textile mills in the North made this area more industrialized before.

Thomas Jefferson's Legacy
One in the United States may see Thomas Jefferson's face e verday on the nickel, but not many know about how important he was to our government and society. Thomas Jefferson, besides being a founding father, was a very influential yet controversial man and president. Thomas Jefferson, is now known for all of the work he has done for constructing the United States' creed, the Declaration of Independence. Being one of the founding fathers of the United States, he helped structure the government of the U.S and set the building blocks for the growing nation at the time. Without Thomas Jefferson as one of the first presidents and such a key player in gaining American Independence, the fight for Independence for America would have been at very slim odds.

Thomas Jefferson, A Man Not Just a President
Thomas Jefferson is looked upon as a very influential man and president. Besides being the founder of the Declaration of Independence, he was a very interesting man. Before becoming president, he attended the **College of William and Mary** with highest honors and became a lawyer. Along with attending the College of William and Mary, he actually founded the __University of Viriginia__ in 1825 after leaving the presidency. He had been planning on creating a university prior to the presidency. He is well known for his amazing architecture of the university by creating an "Academical Village." Thomas Jefferson, an 'opponent' of slavery, had oppossed slavery in his political career, but he supposedly owned **141 slave**s in 1798, just before his presidency. He did inherit slaves from his wife's dowry, but then again four out of the first five presidents did own slaves, but only four of them owned slaves while president, including Jefferson.
 * Jefferson left public political office in 1809 but he did continue to be President of the American Philosophical Society until 1815, when he began consturction of the University of Viriginia.

Sources: ﻿ millercenter.org/president/**jefferson**/essays/biography/9 www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/**thomasjefferson** ** www.monticello.org/site/ ** jefferson  home.nas.com/lopresti/ps.htm

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