Thomas Jefferson

Nickname: Tom Long Legs; San Monticello; People's people

Birth and death:1743.4.13 ~1826.7.4.

Term:1801.3.4 ~1809.3.4.

Origin: Plantation owner

Education: University (College of William and Mary, Philosophy, Literature)

Occupation: lawyer, civil servant

Party: Democracy and the Party (Founder)

Religion: the only monotheistic Sect

Position: Governor and Vice President of Virginia.

Lady: Mathea Wells skelton.

Children: 3 sons and 3 daughters.

Works: Declaration of Independence, Virginia Documentary, Kentucky Resolution, etc.

Famous saying: people have long been deprived of their autonomy. Now, it all depends on how we enjoy these blessed places harmoniously and harmoniously. Examples show that human beings have enough rationality to manage human affairs and the will of most people, and the natural laws of every society are the only reliable guardians of human rights.

Thomas Jefferson (1April 74313-1July 4, 826) was the third president of the United States of America (180 1 year-1809). He was also the main drafter of the American Declaration of Independence (1776) and one of the most influential American Founding Fathers. Major events during his term of office included the Louisiana Purchase (1803), the embargo bill (1807) and the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1807).

As a political scientist, Jefferson insisted on classical liberalism and republicanism, and enacted the Virginia Religious Freedom Act (1779, 1786). This law later became the basis of the First Amendment to the American Constitution, and Jefferson-style democracy was named after him. He founded and led the Democratic Republican Party, which became the predecessor of today's Democratic Party and ruled American politics for a quarter of a century. Jefferson was the second governor of Virginia (1779- 178 1), the first secretary of state (1789- 1793) and the second vice president of the United States (1797-653).

In addition to his political career, Jefferson was an expert in agriculture, horticulture, architecture, etymology, archaeology, mathematics, cryptography, surveying and paleontology. He is also a writer, lawyer and violinist; Founder of the University of Virginia. Many people think that he is the cleverest of all American presidents. At the dinner hosted by 1962 for 49 Nobel laureates, John F. Kennedy said to a group of social elites, "I think the White House has gathered the most talents and human knowledge tonight-maybe not when Jefferson ate here alone." ("I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talents and human knowledge ever gathered in the White House, except perhaps when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." )

First, early occupation and education.

According to the julian calendar adopted at that time, Jefferson was born on April 2, 1743; However, according to the Gregorian calendar he used when he was alive, Jefferson's birthday was1April 3.

Jefferson was born in a wealthy family, ranking third among ten brothers (with two stillbirths). Father named Peter Jefferson, a farmer and land surveyor, owns a farm named Shadwell in Albemarle County, Virginia. Mother Jane Randolph is the daughter of Ethan Randolph and Jane Rogers, and the cousin of Peter Jefferson. Ishahan got married in Shadwell parish church in east London, England. Thomas Jefferson's parents were both immigrant families living in Virginia.

After the mansion was destroyed by fire, Peter Jefferson moved his family to the marginal mountain. The ridge was named after the first battle of the English Civil War, which helped john lilburne develop his political career in the17th century. Jefferson's sister Lucy married Charles Li Erben Lewis and named a son Libney. My brother Randolph also named a son Liebnet.

From 65438 to 0752, Jefferson studied in a school run by Scottish priest william douglas. At the age of 9, he began to learn ancient Latin, ancient Greek and French. 1757, 14 Jefferson lost his father. He inherited about 5,000 acres of land and dozens of slaves. Jefferson built his own house on the land he inherited, which was later named Monticello.

After his father died, Jefferson studied in a school run by James Maury, a learned priest, from 1758 to 1760. The school is located in Fort fredericks, fredericks, 0/2 miles (19 kilometers) away from Shadwell. Jefferson boarded with Murray, received a classical education, and studied history and natural science.

16 years old, Jefferson entered the philosophy department of William and Mary College in Williamsburg, from 1760 to 1762, which lasted for two years. Jefferson studied mathematics, metaphysics and philosophy under Professor William Small. Small introduced the works of English empiricists, including John Locke, Francis Bacon and Sir isaac newton, to the enthusiastic Jefferson. Jefferson later called them "the three greatest men in the history of the world". It is said that Jefferson's college life was 15 hours of reading every day. He took Greek grammar books and French proficiency with him, practiced the violin, and liked the works of cornelius Tacitus and Homer in Cornelius.

Jefferson used to be a member of the mysterious flat hat club in the college, and now all the student newspapers in the college are named after this club. 1762 After graduating with honors, he turned to study law with his mentor and friend George Wythe, and was qualified as a lawyer in Virginia on 1767.

1772, Jefferson married the widowed Martha Velaise skelton (1748-82) and gave birth to six children: Martha Jefferson Randolph, 1772- 1836), Jane Randolph (/. 1778- 1804), Lucy Elizabeth (1780- 178 1 year), Lucy Elizabeth (1782-). Martha skelton died on1September 6, 782, and Jefferson never recovered.

2. Political career from 1774 to 1800.

Jefferson enforced the law in the House of Commons in Virginia. He wrote an overview of British American rights in 1774, and led the Virginia local council to the Congress. This pamphlet became a powerful argument for Americans against British colonists, promoted American independence and marked Jefferson as one of the most profound debaters among patriots.

Jefferson, the main author of the American Declaration of Independence, devoted himself to American political culture and folk culture. The five-member committee appointed by the Continental Congress unanimously agreed that Jefferson should draft the full text of the declaration alone.

1776 In September, Jefferson returned to Virginia and was elected to the newly established Virginia House of Representatives. Jefferson was determined to reform the state's legal system during his term of office to make Virginia a democratic state. In three years, he drafted 126 bills, including abolishing the right of the eldest son to inherit, establishing religious freedom, and modernizing the judicial system. 1778, Jefferson's "More Universal Knowledge Dissemination Act" promoted a series of academic reforms in his alma mater, including the first elective system established by American universities.

Jefferson was governor of Virginia from 1779 to 178 1 and supervised the migration of Virginia from Williamsburg to Richmond in 1780. He kept calling for the educational reform of William and Mary College, including China's first honor code of student autonomy. 1779, at Jefferson's instruction, William and Mary College appointed George Wheeler as the first law professor in American universities. Dissatisfied with the reform process, Jefferson later founded the University of Virginia, the first institution of higher learning in the United States that had nothing to do with religious teachings.

During Jefferson's administration, Virginia was invaded by Britain twice. Jefferson himself was captured by the British cavalry who raided Charlottesville several times, but he was able to escape. The public was angry at the government's inability to resist aggression, which almost ruined Jefferson's political future; But after the siege of Yorktown, public anger gradually subsided.

Jefferson was stationed in France from 1785 to 1789 and did not attend the US Constitutional Convention. Although he gradually supported the new constitution, he still believed that it was flawed because it lacked a bill of rights.

After returning from France, Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State in George Washington's administration (1789- 1793). He and alexander hamilton began to argue about the national fiscal policy, and Jefferson equated Hamilton with other fanatical federalists and royalists. 1790, Jefferson was deeply afraid that the "Hamilton Doctrine" of his "royalism" would prevail, and wrote that "Hamilton's followers were panting with them ... longing for the emperor's crown, the waiting crown, and the bishop's crown." ("Hamiltonians panted after ... and longed for crowns, crowns and crowns") Jefferson and james madison founded the Democratic Party and the Party, and became the leaders of the Party. The system they established with Madison's campaign director, john baker, is called the first party system. 1793, a war broke out between Britain and France. Jefferson strongly supported France, while Hamilton and Washington supported Britain after concluding the Jay Treaty. Jefferson resigned from Montessori and was elected as the vice president of the United States (1797- 180 1).

Because of the quasi-war with France (the two navies declared war), the Federalist Party led by john adams strengthened and recruited Lu Haijun, and at the same time levied new taxes to prepare for the war, and in 1798, the Civil Aliens and Incitement Act was enacted. Jefferson interpreted this law as attacking his party, not dealing with dangerous foreign enemies. He and Madison are both supporters of reorganization, and anonymously wrote the resolutions of Kentucky and Virginia, arguing that the Constitution is only an agreement between the states and the federal government, and the federal government has no right to exercise matters that are not expressly stipulated in the Constitution, and the actions of the states against the federal government can be regarded as invalid. This proposal is the first statement of state power theory in American history, which sets a precedent for refusing to implement federal regulations and intervention theory in the future.

Jefferson worked closely with new york's Elon Burr to reorganize his political party, especially to deal with the new tax collection in the 1800 US presidential election. The Federalist Party refuted Jefferson as a deist and atheist, calling him an enemy of Christians. Jefferson and Burr tied for the first place in the electoral college, and the election result must be decided by the US House of Representatives controlled by the Federalist Party at that time.

After a long debate, Hamilton persuaded his colleagues in the House of Representatives. He believes that rumors in the election process will corrode the new American government; Politically, Jefferson did less harm. The House of Representatives elected Jefferson as President and Burr as Vice President by the resolution of February 180 17.

Three. The term of office of the President is 180 1 to 1809.

1, policy

Jefferson served as president from 180 1 to 1809, the first president to serve in the White House and leave office. This is also the first time that Democratic Party party member was elected president. So far, Jefferson is the only president who has served as vice president of the United States and has been elected for two full terms.

Jefferson is famous for advocating physiocracy, individual freedom, limited government and inspiring American identity with * * * doctrine. Although Jefferson's goal was to establish a limited government, he carried out the Louisiana land purchase case during his first presidency and appointed Lewis and Clark Exploration Company. Jefferson was re-elected in the American presidential election from 65438 to 0804. In his second term, he mainly dealt with diplomatic issues, such as maintaining neutrality in the Anglo-French war.

Jefferson was a strict builder, but he compromised his principles during his presidency. He gave up the principles of maintaining a small navy, agricultural economy, strict constructivism and small government. Tertium quids, an organization separated from democracy and political parties, accused Jefferson of his self-destruction principle.

2. Office events

The First Barbary War (180 1- 1805)

Louisiana Land Purchase (1803)

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Established Oregon Territory (1804)

Boer rebellion (1805)

1804 land law

Ratify the 20th Amendment to the US Constitution (1804)

Lewis and Clark Adventure Company (1804- 1806)

1805, Louisiana territory was established (later renamed Missouri territory).

Tetankuides is separated from democracy and the party.

Embargo Act 1807 is an embargo act, which attempts to suspend trade relations with the belligerents in the Napoleonic War in order to respect the neutrality of the United States.

Abolish 1808 domestic slave trade.

3. Government and Cabinet

American President: Thomas Jefferson

Vice Presidents of the United States: Allen Burr [1801–1805] and george clinton [1805–1809].

US Secretary of State: james madison [1801–1809]

US Treasury Secretary: Samuel Dester [180 1] and Albert Gore Zitan [1801–1809].

US Secretary of the Army Henry deerfield [1801–1809]

U.S attorney general Levi Lincoln [1801–1804], robert smith [1805], john breckinridge [1805–1806] and Caesar Augustus.

Joseph Harper Siam (180 1) and Gideon Gulange (1801–1809), postmasters of the United States.

U.S. Navy Secretary Benjamin Stodday [180 1] and robert smith [1801–1810].

4. Appointment of Supreme Court Judges

Jefferson appointed the following Supreme Court justices during his presidency.

William Qiang Sen–1804.

Henry Brockster Livingston–1807

Thomas Todd–1807

5. States that joined the Federation during their term of office.

Ohio–1803

Fourth, establish a university.

After leaving the presidency, Jefferson continued to actively participate in public affairs. He devoted most of his energy to establishing a new institution of higher learning, and devoted himself to eliminating the influence of the church on school affairs, so that students could concentrate on a new world that his university could not provide. In a letter he 1800 sent to joseph priestley, it shows that he has been thinking for decades before actually establishing a university.

His dream came true in 18 19. Because of the establishment of the University of Virginia, the state legislature approved an annual appropriation of 1500 dollars to promote his studies. When the school started enrolling students on 1825, it was the first university to offer all elective courses for students (although only 30 students signed up for the first session); The campus was one of the largest architectural cases in North America at that time. It is worth noting that the campus of the school is centered on the library, not the church. In fact, the original case did not include the campus chapel at all. Jefferson often invited visiting teachers and students to his home, and edgar allan poe was one of the visitors at that time.

The University of Virginia aims to be the highest institution in the state. Jefferson's point of view is that all residents in the state can enter schools through a single standard.

The verb (abbreviation of verb) dies.

Jefferson died on July 4th, 826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, on the same day as john adams. Jefferson was heavily in debt when he founded the school. All over the United States donated about $65,438+0,600 to help the former president, but it was not enough to help him pay off his debts and medical expenses. Jefferson's 552 acres (223 acres) were sold to James T. Pa khek lé at the auction of Montessori in 183 1 year for 1000. 1836, Pa khek lé resold the overground things together with 2 18 mu (88 mu) of land to US Navy Captain Yuria Willie at the price of 700 yuan. Captain Willie later bought the surrounding land and furniture in the house, so he was called "the savior of Montessoro". Captain Willie died in 1862 because of the American Civil War. In his will, he donated Montessoro as a naval orphan to a school of the United States government. Thomas Jefferson was buried in his manor in Montessori, and his epitaph was written by himself before his death. He insisted that there should not be more than one word on the tombstone except what he wrote. The epitaph is as follows:

University of Virginia

Father and

Virginia

Religious freedom law

American independence

report to a higher body

author

Thomas Jefferson

Sleep here.

This place is buried.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of

report to a higher body

Belonging to

American independence

Of ...

Virginia statute

for

freedom of religion

And father's

University of Virginia

Six, appearance and personality

Jefferson is six feet two and a half inches (189 cm) tall, slender and strong. The facial contour is angular, the skin color is ruddy, the hair color is golden red, mixed with light brown; Gray eyes; In his later years, he dressed casually and slovenly. Jefferson was a bad public speaker, and most of his important speeches were vague. However, when he makes a serious speech, he behaves gracefully. Jefferson soon became warm to people (but not very friendly to strangers); And his energetic, jumping and knowledgeable speech is even more charming. Beneath the quiet appearance, he is enthusiastic, persistent and sentimental, as if he had regular habits in big and small matters. 180 1 was deliberately insulted by the British prime minister and set up a planning center in Washington in response.

Although his biography says that he lacks a sense of humor, his favorite books seem to be Don Quixote and Moliere. Although his works are full of utilitarian thoughts, he was full of romanticism when he was young. In order to translate Ossian's poems, he was going to learn Gaelic. For the manuscript, he visited James mcpherson.

During his term of office, he stopped the practice of the president delivering the State of the Union address in person, and instead addressed the Congress (until Woodrow Wilson's term of office resumed). He made only two public speeches during his presidency. After his wife died, he burned the correspondence between them, showing how far a person can sometimes be withdrawn.

Noam Lakin's Diagnosis of Jefferson in Modern suggests that Jefferson has Asperger's syndrome. Some historians criticized this discovery, saying that suffering from this disease "will undermine Jefferson's greatness." But psychologists believe that the personality traits described in the book are highly consistent with patients with Aspect Syndrome. (Lakin 2000)

Seven. Interests and activities

Jefferson was an outstanding architect. He brought the Palladian architecture popular among British Whigs to the United States, which had a far-reaching impact on the American architectural style of later generations. This style has something to do with * * * and the Party's enlightenment thoughts on civil morality and political freedom. The Montessoro designed by Jefferson is famous for its home. It has automatic doors, a rotating chair for the first time and many conveniences invented by Jefferson himself. The University of Virginia near here is the only institution of higher learning founded by the president in the United States, and its teaching plan and construction plan are arranged by Jefferson. Today, Montessoro and the University of Virginia have become one of the only four cultural world heritages in the United States. Jefferson also participated in the architectural design of the Virginia Parliament Building in Nimes. Mes) is based on Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple. Jefferson's case started the trend of American federal architecture.

One of Jefferson's hobbies is archaeology, which can be traced back to his childhood training. Jefferson is sometimes called the father of archaeology in recognition of his role in the development of cultural relics excavation technology. When he excavated an Indian grave in his own industry in 1784, he did not follow the general practice at that time-that is, dug until the cultural relics were unearthed-but made a gap in the grave for research.

Jefferson likes his fish pond very much now. The fish pond is bowl-shaped and about three feet (one meter) deep, which is used to raise the fish tank he caught. The fish pond has been rebuilt today, in the west of Montessori.

Jefferson was a good wine drinker. During his stay in France (1784- 1789), he traveled extensively in major wine producing areas in Europe and sent wine to his hometown. He once made a bold and famous declaration: "We can brew good wine in the United States that matches the diverse flavors of Europe. It won't be exactly the same, but it is undoubtedly the same sweetness. " Grapes are widely planted in Montessoro, and a large part of them are European wine grape varieties. All the grapes were not spared from the grape diseases of Native Americans.

He wrote a handbook of parliamentary practice in 18 12, which is still in use today.

18 14 After Washington, D.C. and the Library of Congress were burned down by the British, Jefferson provided his personal collection to the country. Congress generously accepted and allocated funds, and 950 yuan bought 6,487 books worth 50,000 yuan, which laid the foundation of the National Library and partially solved Jefferson's financial difficulties. Today, the federal legislation information on the website of the Library of Congress is named Thomas in recognition of its contribution.

He also served as president of the American Philosophical Association for many years.

Eight. Political ideas

Jefferson's vision of the United States is that the country is based on agriculture, and land to the tiller, which is just the opposite of the views of the Federalist Party represented by john adams and alexander hamilton. Hamilton expected the United States to become a great commercial and manufacturing country, while Jefferson, regarded as the father of American exceptionalism, sincerely believed in the uniqueness and unlimited potential of the United States. In other words, Jefferson confidently believed that a country with a large population like the United States was enough to avoid the European-style class opposition and industrialization he feared.

Jefferson was deeply influenced by the views of many European enlightenment thinkers, and his political principles came from the common sense of John Locke (especially inalienable rights and people's sovereignty) and Thomas Paine. Political scientists put Jefferson's thoughts in his contemporaries [Rousseau] [5] Jefferson thought that everyone had "some inalienable right". In other words, no matter whether the government exists or not, the basic rights that people have, which cannot be created, cannot be deprived and cannot be transferred, are eternal. Jefferson's explanation of freedom is the most important. He defined it as "legal freedom, within the scope defined by others according to the same rights, according to our wishes." I didn't mention' within the scope of the law', because the law is usually only the intention of an authoritarian dictator, and the law does violate individual rights in this way. ("legitimate freedom is to act unhindered according to our will within the scope delineated by the equal rights of others. I didn't add "within the limits of the law" because the law is often just the will of tyrants, which is always the case when it infringes on individual rights. " Therefore, for Jefferson, the government could not "create" the right to freedom, but might infringe on individual freedom. The scope of appropriate freedom is not prescribed by law, but only if others have the same rights. Jefferson believed that an appropriate government should not only prevent individuals from infringing on the freedom of others in the group, but also restrain itself and avoid weakening individual freedom.

Jefferson fulfilled his promise of equality by successfully abolishing Virginia's right to inherit the eldest son. This law stipulates that only the oldest male can inherit all family land. In his letter to Madison 1785, he explained his views:

"I really understand that it is unrealistic to distribute land equally, but the extreme inequality of land distribution has caused many people's misfortune. For the re-division of industries, it is not enough for the legislature to enact more laws, but to let the divided land be passed down from generation to generation with the natural nature of human beings. It is a clever and feasible bill that all descendants, all brothers and sisters and even other relatives inherit land equally. Another important significance of reducing the unfair distribution of real estate is to avoid the situation that taxes are too low and increase taxes on a large area of land by geometric progression. At present, the land law has greatly violated the natural rights of the rural field or the unemployed poor. The earth has been endowed as the accumulation of people's work and life. If we regard industrialization as appropriate and reward it, we must take care of those who are excluded from the workplace; If not, the basic right to work on the earth should be returned. In our society, it is still too early for all unemployed people to find landless land for farming and pay appropriate rent, but it is wrong to try to make everyone have no land. Small landlords are the most precious part of the country. "

Jefferson believed that people are born with the moral concept of distinguishing right from wrong, good from evil, so as to get along with others-that is, whether they are self-disciplined or not, they are born with the right to know others. He even believes that the innate moral sense is reliable enough, and a small-scale anarchic society can work well. On several occasions, he expounded the management of anarchy in India:

In a letter to Colonel carrington, he wrote: "I am convinced that ordinary people in these anarchic societies enjoy a greater degree of satisfaction than ordinary people under European governments." Jefferson thought that anarchism was "incompatible with a huge population". Therefore, he proposed that the United States can only establish a government in an expanded territory because "the people agree to accept governance."

In the draft of the American Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote in the preface:

"We believe that the following facts are sacred and undeniable: people are born equal and independent; All men are born equal and have inalienable rights, including life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. In order to achieve this goal, the government established among the people must obtain the consent of the governor and the chief justice. If any form of government is bad, the people have the right to reorganize or abandon it and establish a new form of government organized by the above principles, just as the people should try their best to pursue security and happiness. "

Jefferson wrote a lot about "the consent of the ruled". He believes that due to the behavior of past generations, individuals cannot be bound by morality, including debts and regulations. He said: "No society can make a permanent constitution or law, and the earth will always belong to the generation living on it." He even calculated the statutory time limit that he thought was appropriate: "Therefore, all constitutions and even all laws should become invalid after 19. If it is exercised for a longer time, it will become mandatory, not the right behavior. " Jefferson estimated 19 years old from the life expectancy table at that time, which he thought was the "mature" age for individuals to express themselves. Jefferson also called for the elimination of the national debt. He believes that the current generation does not have to repay the debts of its predecessors morally. He said that taking on such debts is "a generous act, not a matter of rights."

Jefferson strongly supported state power, and in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798, he set the tone of hostility to the expansion of federal power, which is particularly noteworthy. However, some of his foreign policies actually expanded federal power. Most importantly, in the Louisiana land purchase case of 1803, he annexed a large area of foreign land with unwritten federal power, together with the French and Italian residents living in it. He exercised the embargo bill, but failed because of the conflict with foreign policy, which shows that when there is a danger of war, the federal government can intervene in local affairs to control trade.

▲ Views on justice

Jefferson was a trained lawyer, but he never felt comfortable in court. He believes that judges should be technical experts and cannot make policies. He condemned the Supreme Court's judgment in the case of 180 1 Marbury v. Madison as unconstitutional, but failed to get enough support in Congress and proposed a constitutional amendment to reject the judgment. He continued the judicial review:

"It is very dangerous to regard the judge as the supreme arbiter of all constitutional questions. Any judge who interprets the constitution can put me under an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as ordinary people and no more than ordinary people. Judges' preference for parties, power and their own privileges is no different from that of human beings. Their motto is Boniju Dicis est Ampli re Juriseem-"Wide jurisdiction means justice". Their power is the most dangerous, because they are tenure positions and are not accountable to voters like other departments. The court established according to the Constitution does not entrust any arbitrary political party, and its disadvantages appear at any time; It is wiser to make all departments equal. "