![\"Thomas](\"http:\/\/faculty.wagner.edu\/lori-weintrob\/files\/2013\/11\/TJ-240x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Courtesy Of Library Of Congress<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
We always hear about Thomas Jefferson in our history classes, as one of the most influential American politicians at the time of the nation\u2019s birth.\u00a0 Though, we don\u2019t always take the time to understand why this is the case. \u00a0Looking at what he accomplished as president and politician seems mind boggling.\u00a0 In my blog, I will discuss Thomas Jefferson\u2019s major accomplishments, his leadership lessons, and criticisms of his actions.<\/p>\n
Before engaging the thesis, I want to discuss Jefferson’s background, before the late 1770’s. \u00a0The reason being that his major accomplishments come during and after this time period. \u00a0It is important to discover what his actions were at this early stage in his life, to understand how he came to be one of the most influential men in American history. \u00a0The following information is taken from Jon Meacham’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power. \u00a0First off, Jefferson was born and raised in Virgina, to wealthy parents. \u00a0His father owned a large plantation and, thus, was able to afford a great education for his son, that which many others could not afford. \u00a0Jefferson went to the College of William and Mary. \u00a0Two classes he took, which are important to note, were: literature and philosophy. \u00a0After studying law, Jefferson, then, was admitted to the Virgina bar. \u00a0He was a skilled lawyer and, afterwards, a\u00a0member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. \u00a0In 1774, he wrote the”Summary View of the Rights of British America.” \u00a0The Summary View opposed all the oppressive taxes and other acts Britain imposed on the 13 Colonies.<\/p>\n
Major Accomplishments:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1.<\/strong>\u00a0Human Right’s Advocate<\/strong><\/h3>\nThomas Jefferson must be considered a champion of human rights.\u00a0 He believed that all men deserved these necessary human guarantees.\u00a0 He took this idea and influenced those of his generation and future generations, including ours, to make it a reality.\u00a0 This great amount of influence can be considered one of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s greatest accomplishment.<\/p>\n
One way, in which he influenced so many people, is through his writing of the Declaration of Independence. \u00a0Now, before going further it is important to mention why he wrote the Declaration. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration in order to inform the Brittish Monarchy that the 13 Colonies will no longer be under it’s rule. \u00a0This is consistent with the idea of “a government needing the consent of the people.” \u00a0The reason Jefferson, among many others, wanted independence is because the monarcy was becoming too oppressive. \u00a0For instance, the Tea Act, set a tax on tea. \u00a0Within it, he including words, such as: equality among all men. \u00a0Abraham Lincoln\u2019s emancipation proclamation can be traced back to these words. \u00a0In “Jeffersonian Democracy and the Origins of Political Antislavery in the United States:\u00a0The Missouri Crisis Revisited,”<\/i>\u00a0Sean Wilentz writes, \u201cThey believed that the institution was an affront to God, democracy, equality, and human progress- \u201cthe definitions and axioms of free society\u201d that Lincoln traced back to Thomas Jefferson.\u201d\u00a0 At this time, it is important to note that Thomas Jefferson wanted to go past these axioms.\u00a0 He wanted to write within the Declaration, that the slave trade was extremely immoral.\u00a0 Though, on page 105 of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Jon Meacham writes, \u201cThe denunciation of slavery was also eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas Jefferson demonstrated his abhorrence to slavery in other instances. Meacham writes about this on page 124 of his biography on Jefferson.\u00a0 For instance, he wanted to pass an amendment that would emancipate slaves born after a specified day and then deport them out of the country after an appropriate age.\u00a0 Jefferson wrote that, \u201c\u201cNothing is more certainly written in the book of fate, than that these people are to be free.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 The problem is that he was not born in the right time period to free slaves.<\/p>\n
Clearly, Thomas Jefferson failed in ending the institution of slavery, though, he did not fail in influencing a future generation to do so.\u00a0 First, this can be seen within his 1st<\/sup> presidential inaugural address.\u00a0 He said, \u201cthat the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.\u201d\u00a0 It was always common for Jefferson to mention this and other inalienable rights.\u00a0 For instance, I have always learned in previous history classes that he greatly supported a Federal Bill of Rights. \u00a0This is one of the reasons why he was a popular Anti-Federalist. \u00a0It is also extremely important to realize that Jeffersonian Democrats, or politicians who attained Jefferson\u2019s political outlook, fought for necessities that allowed Lincoln to emancipate slaves.\u00a0 For instance, Wilentz writes, \u201cThe founding fathers had excluded the words \u201cslave\u201d and \u201cslavery\u201d from the Constitution,\u201d and \u201c\u201cby allowing for the abolition of the foreign slave trade and by prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory under the Northwest Ordinance.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n![\"LouisianaPurchase\"](\"http:\/\/faculty.wagner.edu\/lori-weintrob\/files\/2013\/11\/LouisianaPurchase-300x183.png\")
<\/a>Map Courtesy Of Wikimedia<\/p><\/div>\n
2. Louisiana Purchase<\/strong><\/h3>\nAnother major accomplishment of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s would have to be the Louisiana Purchase.\u00a0 This piece of land took up a large chunk of America, as can be seen from the map on the right.\u00a0 It\u2019s incredible to imagine: how could a president hold so much power?\u00a0 This topic seems extremely interesting to me.\u00a0 It becomes more interesting, knowing that such power was completely against everything he stood for. \u00a0In, “When the ends justify the means:\u00a0Thomas Jefferson\u00a0<\/i>and the Louisiana Purchase,”\u00a0<\/i>Barry J. Balleck writes, \u201cMany critics have seen Jefferson\u2019s purchase of Louisiana as a \u201csell out\u201d of his most cherished political principles-state\u2019 rights and strict constructionism.\u201d\u00a0 State Constructionism is following the Constitution with great scrutiny.\u00a0 This basically means that he was against a big federal government.\u00a0 However, by buying the land, he clearly increased what the federal government was allowed to do.\u00a0 The Constitution clearly does not give a president this power.\u00a0\u00a0 Nevertheless, he accomplished a great feat and had good reasons for going against his principles, which will be mentioned later on in this blog. \u00a0For now, I want to focus on what Jefferson said about the Louisiana Purchase in his 2nd<\/sup> Inaugural Address.<\/p>\n\u201cI have said, fellow-citizens, that the income reserved had enabled us to extend our limits, but that extension may possibly pay for itself before we are called on, and in the meantime may keep down the accruing interest; in all events, it will replace the advances we shall have made. I know that the acquisition of Louisiana had been disapproved by some from a candid apprehension that the enlargement of our territory would endanger its union. But who can limit the extent to which the federative principle may operate effectively? The larger our association the less will it be shaken by local passions; and in any view is it not better that the opposite bank of the Mississippi should be settled by our own brethren and children than by strangers of another family? With which should we be most likely to live in harmony and friendly intercourse?\u201d<\/p>\n
I quoted this paragraph straight out of his address for two significant reasons. \u00a0First, it illistrates the importance of Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana territory at that time. \u00a0Second, it will help me later on explain why he abandoned his most basic principles of state\u2019 rights and strict constructionism for the large piece of land. \u00a0He lists a couple of important reasons why the Louisiana Purchase is more of a positive than a negative. \u00a0First, he mentions that a larger America will ensure that “local passions” will have a less of an effect on the country as a whole. \u00a0What he is refering to are factions. \u00a0Factions are made up of people with a shared strong desire. \u00a0I’ve learned from previous history classes that people of his time period feared factions. \u00a0The reason being that if one faction took over, many non-members would suffer. \u00a0For instance, if a farming faction desired more income for crops, non-farmers would suffer. \u00a0Second, he argues that the opposite bank of the Mississippi should be settled by Americans. \u00a0He is, basically, saying that the Louisiana territory gave the Union important land that should be a part of the Union, since it is within the Union. \u00a0This included the opposite bank of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n
![\"Old_Cabell_Hall_and_Homer_University_of_Virginia\"](\"http:\/\/faculty.wagner.edu\/lori-weintrob\/files\/2013\/11\/Old_Cabell_Hall_and_Homer_University_of_Virginia-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Courtesy Of Wikimedia<\/p><\/div>\n
3. University Of Virginia<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat most people don\u2019t know, is that Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia.\u00a0 The university opened in 1825 and was one of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s favorite accomplishments. \u00a0In,”Mr. Jefferson’s University: Women in the Village!.(Thomas Jefferson),” Phyllis Leffler writes, \u201c\u201cAnd it was one of three accomplishments for which he wished to be remembered on his tombstone.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 The fact that he became the father of his own university is extremely significant.\u00a0 It makes him a strong advocate of education.\u00a0 In his second inaugural address, he actually mentions education as a necessity.<\/p>\n
Leadership Lessons:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1. <\/strong>One leadership lesson Thomas Jefferson greatly demonstrates, is that some actions you carry out can contradict others. \u00a0This goes back to his decision to purchase the Louisiana territory. \u00a0Why would he carry out this action when it goes against his main principles of state’s rights and strict constructionism. \u00a0Jefferson briefly explains his reasons in his second inaugural address, which I quoted above. \u00a0Though, there are greater reasons for why he bought the Louisiana territory. \u00a0Balleck greatly explains this in When the ends justify the means: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. \u00a0He does this by first explaining why state’s rights and strict constructionism was so important to Jefferson. \u00a0Well, it kept a big federal government from forming and, thus, kept America a Republic. \u00a0Balleck writes, “If at a certain time an unprecedented opportunity to extend the period of Republican stability presented itself- and could only be grasped by moving temporarily away from the generally appropriate means for protecting Republicanism- one would necessarily have to seize the opportunity.” \u00a0He then writes that, “At the core of Republicanism stood two fundamental pillars: individualism and an agrarian way of life.” \u00a0The two keep a big federal government from forming and, thus, the Republic from disforming. \u00a0The two are interlocked. \u00a0Individualism will do this by making it so that people don’t overly depend on the government. \u00a0By buying so much land for people to work on or live an agrarian way of life, individualism will sustain. \u00a0Individualism will all sustain through jobs, such as: carpenters and other hard laborers. \u00a0An agrarian way of life will also have other great products, such as: freedom of manipulation by higher class citizens in cities, a prosperous industry, and freedom of population pressure. \u00a0Population Pressure is when there are too many mouths to feed in the country; poverty results from this problem. \u00a0There will be food to feed everyone and everyone will be happy. \u00a0This whole idea of contradiction goes back to the theme of Nelson Mandela and critical reflection. \u00a0Depending on the situation, different actions must be carried out to achieve the ultimate goal. \u00a0In this case, it was to sustain Republicanism.<\/p>\n2.\u00a0<\/strong>A second leadership lesson Thomas Jefferson greatly demonstrates, is that a leader can’t achieve everything he wants to. \u00a0For instance, he could not end slavery. \u00a0Too many people supported the institution, which made the feat, at that time, impossible. \u00a0These people included southerners, who needed slaves to work on their farms. \u00a0The skill to learn in this instance is collective leadership. \u00a0One must learn to lead with the help of others. \u00a0Even though he knew slavery was evil, he couldn’t fix the problem.<\/p>\nCriticisms:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1.\u00a0<\/strong>Thomas Jefferson may have supported ending slavery, but, afterwards, he wanted to deport free blacks out of the country. \u00a0He could not imagine living with them. \u00a0The following quote is the continuation of another presented in the third paragraph of Jefferson’s 1st major accomplishment, on page 124 on Meacham’s book. \u00a0Jefferson wote, “”nor it is less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same government. \u00a0Nature, hait, opinion have drawn indelible lines of distinction between them.”‘ This quote illustrates Jefferson’s prejudice against African-Americans and even though it is less than others, still, it is unethical.<\/p>\n2.\u00a0<\/strong>Thomas Jefferson not only had prejudice against African-Americans. \u00a0He owned slaves. \u00a0This is not only extremely unethical, but hypocritical of him. \u00a0He supports ending slavery, but owns his own slaves.<\/p>\n3. He was prejudice against women within the university he founded. \u00a0For instance, he only offered them classes that society saw fit for women, such as cooking. \u00a0This is greatly detailed in\u00a0Phyllis Leffler’s article.<\/p>\n
Relevance To:<\/h2>\n1. Author<\/strong><\/h3>\nI’ve always been interested in this concept of equality. \u00a0Even though it does not exist, equality can still be seen before the law. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter of allowing all people: the common man, the wealthy, and even slaves to be treated equally. \u00a0He wrote the Declaration of Independence, fought for a U.S. Bill of Rights, and advocated for an amendment to end slavery. \u00a0The amendment, even though not passed, was fulfilled through the Emancipation Proclimation. \u00a0All of these documents I appreciate, and can thank for the equality I, as well as, my peers enjoy today.<\/p>\n
2. The American Dream<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nWithout Thomas Jefferson to strengthen the foundation of human rights, such as the equality among all men, it is likely that to this day black Americans would not be able to achieve the American Dream. \u00a0However, surely they are able to. \u00a0The best example would be President Obama. \u00a0He is the first black president and there are surely more to come.<\/p>\n
Bigliography:<\/strong><\/h2>\nBalleck, Barry, “When the Ends Justify the Means: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase”<\/p>\n
Presidential Studies Quarterly<\/cite>\u00a0, Vol. 22, No. 4, America’s Bill of Rights (Fall, 1992), 679-696.<\/p>\nLeffler, Phyllis K. \u201cMr. Jefferson\u2019s University:\u00a0 Women in the Village!,\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Virginia\u00a0\u00a0 Magazine of History and Biography<\/i>, Vol. 115, No. 1 (2007), 56-107.<\/p>\n
Meacham, Jon.\u00a0Thomas Jefferson: the art of power<\/em>. New York: Random House, 2012.<\/p>\nWilentz, Sean, “Jeffersonian Democracy and the Origins of Political Antislavery in the United States: The Missouri Crisis Revisited,”\u00a0Journal of The Historical Society<\/i>, 4 (2004):\u00a0375\u2013401.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBarefoots World. “Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Addresses.” Accessed on October 22, 2013.\u00a0http:\/\/www.barefootsworld.net\/tjinaugural.html<\/a>.<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
Thomas Jefferson must be considered a champion of human rights.\u00a0 He believed that all men deserved these necessary human guarantees.\u00a0 He took this idea and influenced those of his generation and future generations, including ours, to make it a reality.\u00a0 This great amount of influence can be considered one of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s greatest accomplishment.<\/p>\n
One way, in which he influenced so many people, is through his writing of the Declaration of Independence. \u00a0Now, before going further it is important to mention why he wrote the Declaration. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration in order to inform the Brittish Monarchy that the 13 Colonies will no longer be under it’s rule. \u00a0This is consistent with the idea of “a government needing the consent of the people.” \u00a0The reason Jefferson, among many others, wanted independence is because the monarcy was becoming too oppressive. \u00a0For instance, the Tea Act, set a tax on tea. \u00a0Within it, he including words, such as: equality among all men. \u00a0Abraham Lincoln\u2019s emancipation proclamation can be traced back to these words. \u00a0In “Jeffersonian Democracy and the Origins of Political Antislavery in the United States:\u00a0The Missouri Crisis Revisited,”<\/i>\u00a0Sean Wilentz writes, \u201cThey believed that the institution was an affront to God, democracy, equality, and human progress- \u201cthe definitions and axioms of free society\u201d that Lincoln traced back to Thomas Jefferson.\u201d\u00a0 At this time, it is important to note that Thomas Jefferson wanted to go past these axioms.\u00a0 He wanted to write within the Declaration, that the slave trade was extremely immoral.\u00a0 Though, on page 105 of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Jon Meacham writes, \u201cThe denunciation of slavery was also eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas Jefferson demonstrated his abhorrence to slavery in other instances. Meacham writes about this on page 124 of his biography on Jefferson.\u00a0 For instance, he wanted to pass an amendment that would emancipate slaves born after a specified day and then deport them out of the country after an appropriate age.\u00a0 Jefferson wrote that, \u201c\u201cNothing is more certainly written in the book of fate, than that these people are to be free.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 The problem is that he was not born in the right time period to free slaves.<\/p>\n
Clearly, Thomas Jefferson failed in ending the institution of slavery, though, he did not fail in influencing a future generation to do so.\u00a0 First, this can be seen within his 1st<\/sup> presidential inaugural address.\u00a0 He said, \u201cthat the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.\u201d\u00a0 It was always common for Jefferson to mention this and other inalienable rights.\u00a0 For instance, I have always learned in previous history classes that he greatly supported a Federal Bill of Rights. \u00a0This is one of the reasons why he was a popular Anti-Federalist. \u00a0It is also extremely important to realize that Jeffersonian Democrats, or politicians who attained Jefferson\u2019s political outlook, fought for necessities that allowed Lincoln to emancipate slaves.\u00a0 For instance, Wilentz writes, \u201cThe founding fathers had excluded the words \u201cslave\u201d and \u201cslavery\u201d from the Constitution,\u201d and \u201c\u201cby allowing for the abolition of the foreign slave trade and by prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory under the Northwest Ordinance.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n Map Courtesy Of Wikimedia<\/p><\/div>\n Another major accomplishment of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s would have to be the Louisiana Purchase.\u00a0 This piece of land took up a large chunk of America, as can be seen from the map on the right.\u00a0 It\u2019s incredible to imagine: how could a president hold so much power?\u00a0 This topic seems extremely interesting to me.\u00a0 It becomes more interesting, knowing that such power was completely against everything he stood for. \u00a0In, “When the ends justify the means:\u00a0Thomas Jefferson\u00a0<\/i>and the Louisiana Purchase,”\u00a0<\/i>Barry J. Balleck writes, \u201cMany critics have seen Jefferson\u2019s purchase of Louisiana as a \u201csell out\u201d of his most cherished political principles-state\u2019 rights and strict constructionism.\u201d\u00a0 State Constructionism is following the Constitution with great scrutiny.\u00a0 This basically means that he was against a big federal government.\u00a0 However, by buying the land, he clearly increased what the federal government was allowed to do.\u00a0 The Constitution clearly does not give a president this power.\u00a0\u00a0 Nevertheless, he accomplished a great feat and had good reasons for going against his principles, which will be mentioned later on in this blog. \u00a0For now, I want to focus on what Jefferson said about the Louisiana Purchase in his 2nd<\/sup> Inaugural Address.<\/p>\n \u201cI have said, fellow-citizens, that the income reserved had enabled us to extend our limits, but that extension may possibly pay for itself before we are called on, and in the meantime may keep down the accruing interest; in all events, it will replace the advances we shall have made. I know that the acquisition of Louisiana had been disapproved by some from a candid apprehension that the enlargement of our territory would endanger its union. But who can limit the extent to which the federative principle may operate effectively? The larger our association the less will it be shaken by local passions; and in any view is it not better that the opposite bank of the Mississippi should be settled by our own brethren and children than by strangers of another family? With which should we be most likely to live in harmony and friendly intercourse?\u201d<\/p>\n I quoted this paragraph straight out of his address for two significant reasons. \u00a0First, it illistrates the importance of Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana territory at that time. \u00a0Second, it will help me later on explain why he abandoned his most basic principles of state\u2019 rights and strict constructionism for the large piece of land. \u00a0He lists a couple of important reasons why the Louisiana Purchase is more of a positive than a negative. \u00a0First, he mentions that a larger America will ensure that “local passions” will have a less of an effect on the country as a whole. \u00a0What he is refering to are factions. \u00a0Factions are made up of people with a shared strong desire. \u00a0I’ve learned from previous history classes that people of his time period feared factions. \u00a0The reason being that if one faction took over, many non-members would suffer. \u00a0For instance, if a farming faction desired more income for crops, non-farmers would suffer. \u00a0Second, he argues that the opposite bank of the Mississippi should be settled by Americans. \u00a0He is, basically, saying that the Louisiana territory gave the Union important land that should be a part of the Union, since it is within the Union. \u00a0This included the opposite bank of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n Photo Courtesy Of Wikimedia<\/p><\/div>\n What most people don\u2019t know, is that Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia.\u00a0 The university opened in 1825 and was one of Thomas Jefferson\u2019s favorite accomplishments. \u00a0In,”Mr. Jefferson’s University: Women in the Village!.(Thomas Jefferson),” Phyllis Leffler writes, \u201c\u201cAnd it was one of three accomplishments for which he wished to be remembered on his tombstone.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 The fact that he became the father of his own university is extremely significant.\u00a0 It makes him a strong advocate of education.\u00a0 In his second inaugural address, he actually mentions education as a necessity.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>One leadership lesson Thomas Jefferson greatly demonstrates, is that some actions you carry out can contradict others. \u00a0This goes back to his decision to purchase the Louisiana territory. \u00a0Why would he carry out this action when it goes against his main principles of state’s rights and strict constructionism. \u00a0Jefferson briefly explains his reasons in his second inaugural address, which I quoted above. \u00a0Though, there are greater reasons for why he bought the Louisiana territory. \u00a0Balleck greatly explains this in When the ends justify the means: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. \u00a0He does this by first explaining why state’s rights and strict constructionism was so important to Jefferson. \u00a0Well, it kept a big federal government from forming and, thus, kept America a Republic. \u00a0Balleck writes, “If at a certain time an unprecedented opportunity to extend the period of Republican stability presented itself- and could only be grasped by moving temporarily away from the generally appropriate means for protecting Republicanism- one would necessarily have to seize the opportunity.” \u00a0He then writes that, “At the core of Republicanism stood two fundamental pillars: individualism and an agrarian way of life.” \u00a0The two keep a big federal government from forming and, thus, the Republic from disforming. \u00a0The two are interlocked. \u00a0Individualism will do this by making it so that people don’t overly depend on the government. \u00a0By buying so much land for people to work on or live an agrarian way of life, individualism will sustain. \u00a0Individualism will all sustain through jobs, such as: carpenters and other hard laborers. \u00a0An agrarian way of life will also have other great products, such as: freedom of manipulation by higher class citizens in cities, a prosperous industry, and freedom of population pressure. \u00a0Population Pressure is when there are too many mouths to feed in the country; poverty results from this problem. \u00a0There will be food to feed everyone and everyone will be happy. \u00a0This whole idea of contradiction goes back to the theme of Nelson Mandela and critical reflection. \u00a0Depending on the situation, different actions must be carried out to achieve the ultimate goal. \u00a0In this case, it was to sustain Republicanism.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0<\/strong>A second leadership lesson Thomas Jefferson greatly demonstrates, is that a leader can’t achieve everything he wants to. \u00a0For instance, he could not end slavery. \u00a0Too many people supported the institution, which made the feat, at that time, impossible. \u00a0These people included southerners, who needed slaves to work on their farms. \u00a0The skill to learn in this instance is collective leadership. \u00a0One must learn to lead with the help of others. \u00a0Even though he knew slavery was evil, he couldn’t fix the problem.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0<\/strong>Thomas Jefferson may have supported ending slavery, but, afterwards, he wanted to deport free blacks out of the country. \u00a0He could not imagine living with them. \u00a0The following quote is the continuation of another presented in the third paragraph of Jefferson’s 1st major accomplishment, on page 124 on Meacham’s book. \u00a0Jefferson wote, “”nor it is less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same government. \u00a0Nature, hait, opinion have drawn indelible lines of distinction between them.”‘ This quote illustrates Jefferson’s prejudice against African-Americans and even though it is less than others, still, it is unethical.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0<\/strong>Thomas Jefferson not only had prejudice against African-Americans. \u00a0He owned slaves. \u00a0This is not only extremely unethical, but hypocritical of him. \u00a0He supports ending slavery, but owns his own slaves.<\/p>\n 3. He was prejudice against women within the university he founded. \u00a0For instance, he only offered them classes that society saw fit for women, such as cooking. \u00a0This is greatly detailed in\u00a0Phyllis Leffler’s article.<\/p>\n I’ve always been interested in this concept of equality. \u00a0Even though it does not exist, equality can still be seen before the law. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter of allowing all people: the common man, the wealthy, and even slaves to be treated equally. \u00a0He wrote the Declaration of Independence, fought for a U.S. Bill of Rights, and advocated for an amendment to end slavery. \u00a0The amendment, even though not passed, was fulfilled through the Emancipation Proclimation. \u00a0All of these documents I appreciate, and can thank for the equality I, as well as, my peers enjoy today.<\/p>\n Without Thomas Jefferson to strengthen the foundation of human rights, such as the equality among all men, it is likely that to this day black Americans would not be able to achieve the American Dream. \u00a0However, surely they are able to. \u00a0The best example would be President Obama. \u00a0He is the first black president and there are surely more to come.<\/p>\n Balleck, Barry, “When the Ends Justify the Means: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase”<\/p>\n Presidential Studies Quarterly<\/cite>\u00a0, Vol. 22, No. 4, America’s Bill of Rights (Fall, 1992), 679-696.<\/p>\n Leffler, Phyllis K. \u201cMr. Jefferson\u2019s University:\u00a0 Women in the Village!,\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Virginia\u00a0\u00a0 Magazine of History and Biography<\/i>, Vol. 115, No. 1 (2007), 56-107.<\/p>\n Meacham, Jon.\u00a0Thomas Jefferson: the art of power<\/em>. New York: Random House, 2012.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a>2. Louisiana Purchase<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>3. University Of Virginia<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Leadership Lessons:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Criticisms:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Relevance To:<\/h2>\n
1. Author<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. The American Dream<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Bigliography:<\/strong><\/h2>\n