Compare Napoleon's Decision To Purchase Thomas Jefferson

Our third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, had great intentions when he was elected into the presidency. The actions that took place during his eight years in office reflect the principles that Jefferson believed in, and that is what he wanted to achieve.

One of Jefferson’s beliefs was having an agricultural-based economy and life, rather than commerce and federal power. “He believed a person who owned a farm and worked the land would be economically independent, and that independence would develop and preserve wisdom, self-control, courage, and fortitude. He thought commerce, on the other hand, was a corrupter of morals that made people greedy and dependent on others (Discovery Techbook, Chapter 6.1).” His decision to purchase

During his presidency, he reduced the debt by $23 million. Many years before Jefferson became president, the Barbary states had sent pirates to attack and capture European and American ships, cargo, and sailors. They would then hold the crews for ransom and demanded large sums of money for safe passage. The US and European countries would routinely give into these demands because they knew it would cost less than war. Jefferson had opposed this from the beginning, so when he was president, he made it all change. In 1801, the ruler of Tripoli, a Barbary state, demanded the payment of $250,000 for tribute, and an additional annual payment, but Jefferson refused. Because of this Tripoli declared war. Jefferson sent a naval force to the Mediterranean to protect US ships. This resulted into a four year long struggle with Tripoli. The US Marines landed on Libya and threatened control over Tripoli, resulting in a peace treaty being made between the United States and Tripoli. But this didn’t stop the other Barbary states, who continued to demand money. Jefferson’s actions led to other US navy missions to end all tribute payments for