“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” (Thomas Jefferson) Thomas Jefferson was an exceptionally successful and influential as a president. Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. Before he became president he was a writer and a Lawyer. He also served in the Continental congress as the Representative of Virginia. While on congress Jefferson and four other men were asked to write up the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was the main author for the document he spent seventeen straight-days working on the Declaration of Independence. Later he served as a United States minister to France and the secretary of state.
All individuals are created equal. This is one of the many ideas the United States is built on. This concept existed long before the Declaration of Independence was written. This idea was introduced by John Locke who was an Enlightenment thinker. The declaration of Independence is where Americans declared their rights. Thomas Jefferson, the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence was greatly influenced by the philosopher John Locke. Locke believed that humans had natural rights, that power comes from the people and all men are equal, and these beliefs can be found in Jefferson’s writings.
He helped us in the American Revolution by expertly writing the Declaration of Independence, perfectly articulating how the Patriots felt about their need for separation. His system of beliefs was another contribution to society, which still influences many people today. Lastly, Jefferson’s inventions were also very important contributions to society, some which greatly affect how we live our lives today. I shall leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Thomas Jefferson. “Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define
John Locke was a philosopher, and political scientist. He believed democracy was a considerably better form of government than a monarchy. Thomas Jefferson was the third U.S. president, and was one of America’s founding fathers. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, and played a key role in the institution of the United States of America. John Locke was a very influential person when it came to Thomas Jefferson and the ideas within the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson changed the future of the American nation by purchasing the Louisiana Territory, being friendly and popular with the people, and writing the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson was a great man, which, he played an important role in changing the destiny of the American republic, by being a man of many talents. For instance, with his intellectual writing he wrote the declaration of independence, Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, and Notes on the State of Virginia. Also, as an architect, he designed the University of Virginia and his home Monticello, which attracts thousands of visitors now. As well, he was an abolitionist, but yet he was a slave owner.
The Age of Reason is a name used to describe the age that influenced the American Statesmen of the Revolution. Taxes forced upon the colonists by Britain after the French and Indian War enraged the colonists, leading to the Revolution that would change the world forever. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s The Crisis Number 1 were two very important works of literature during the Revolutionary period. Both works used persuasion effectively. Jefferson wrote to King George III declaring independence; Paine’s purpose was to unite America to fight against Britain. However, The Declaration was most effective because we still use The Declaration of Independence today. The United States would not be the democracy it is today without Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of
Thomas Jefferson had an enormous impact on the American society. He influenced America to unite as one nation. He shaped a strong central government and had a judicial exceed. If he hadn’t shaped a strong government maybe we wouldn’t have the rights we have today. He proceeded by doing this by influencing the constitution. Yes, he maybe didn’t have the best economic intentions for America. But, Jefferson created an educational program by proposing a system of public school. However, he also understood people’s powers, natural rights, and liberty. In my opinion, Thomas Jefferson respected people’s voices, made sure we didn’t turn into a dictatorship country. So yes, his precedents did matter he made sure that the people were heard, and had a
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” He should believe so, as Thomas Jefferson’s actions clearly characterize his individual self, while also inducing the question, Does Thomas Jefferson deserve the honor he possesses, through these eminent actions? Many people believe that Thomas Jefferson is a powerful individual who helped form our country, and was a great leader through his presidential career. He made the best out of difficult situations, when he knew the complete situation had to remain unsolved, and he also wrote the Declaration of Independence for the help of our country. On the other hand, it can also be debated that Thomas Jefferson is a hypocritic man that nearly destroyed our military,
The first reason Thomas Jefferson is the strongest and best out of the three is he made the Declaration of Independance. In 1775 Thomas jefferson was on the continetial congress. He later made the declaration of Independance in 1776. This document is one of the most important document in United States History. It communicates the beliefs and the values of the American Government.
Thomas Jefferson was a pioneer on the topic of church and state and how those two things have no power over the other in any way, shape, or form. Jefferson explains this when he mentions “Almighty God hath created the mind free, and manifested his supreme will that free it shall remain by making it altogether insusceptible of restraint.” Jefferson believes that God created us to be free of everything, including religion. That is why Jefferson didn’t want to give up that freedom even to the government he was so strongly a part of. Jefferson then goes on to talk about how it is extremely wrong when a church forces a man to support or change his personal views just because of an outside source, Jefferson even calls it “tyrannical” some of the methods that the church had to gain control of people. Jefferson also said how it was wrong to require a public official to be of a certain religion, much like how the Baptists were afraid the John F. Kennedy would gain presidency then hand over the power to the catholic church, Jefferson also said that a man brought to power specifically for religious reasons tend to be “corrupt the principles of that very religion it is meant to encourage,” the official becomes very bias to that church that he is representing. The man elected to office by religion can then suddenly start judging others and deciding things that are right with the church he is representing, not the U.S. constitution or any other laws that could contradict the rules from his church. Jefferson closes the article by stating how his state, the state of Virginia, will not compel or require any citizen to attend, worship, support, or minister any church or religion that that specific citizen did not choose to do so.
Thomas Jefferson always viewed slavery as a “moral depravity and a hideous blot.”(5) Jefferson felt it also was a great threat to the nation 's survival and opposing the laws of nature, which every person had the right liberty. When the American Revolution was taking place, Jefferson was connected with the legislation in hopes it result in abolishment of slavery. In his attempts to abolish slavery Jefferson drafted the Virginia law in 1778 “that prohibited the importation of enslaved Africans.”(6) In 1784 he also “proposed in an ordinance that would ban slavery in the Northwest territories.”(7) These were steps towards the abolishment of slavery, but for it to be successful it had to part of a democratic process Jefferson believed. It would take something like the Emancipation Proclamation to make his beliefs come true.
Throughout the years there has been many individuals whom have helped shape The United States of America into the independent country it is today. It’s hard to believe that this country was at one point governed by a distant British king, and that before Americans claimed equal rights, they were subject to British tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson’s legacy shaped the foundation of America today, his ideas on the limiting federal government, the separation of church and state, and the utmost importance of an individual 's personal rights. Limiting help to control potential abuses by the people in power over the citizens who elected them. His influence on limiting the federal government has prevented many crisis’ that have affected other democracies. Furthermore, his beliefs of separation of church and state helped to advance society by keeping the United States of America from becoming a theocracy. Arguably Thomas Jefferson’s biggest accomplishment comes from his incredibly strong and influential effort to further advance the personal rights of each and every citizen. Of Thomas Jefferson’s triumphs, his advancement of personal rights has had the greatest effect on modern day America. Without his enlightenment ideas and push for the Bill of Rights, the United States would not be the same amazing country that exists today. God bless
At the beginning of U.S. history there were many debates on how the country should be run. People mainly argued about the balance of power between the individual person and the Federal Government. Some people and documents that addressed this issue are the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, The U.S. Constitution: Preamble and Bill of Rights, and “Jefferson: The Best of Enemies” by Ron Chernow.