Thomas Jefferson The Jefferson Memorial in Washington D C at dusk The memo rial was dedicated on April 13 1943 the 200th aniversary of Jefferson’s birth Lester Lefkowitz The Image Bank Getty Images 8
Introduction with the foundation of the Republican party He believed in states rights a limited role for the central government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution This pitted him against the Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams who controlled Washington’s administration and resulted in Jefferson’s resignation as secretary He re-emerged on the national stage in 1796 when he decided to run for president However Jefferson lost to Adams and became vice president Jefferson made a second run for the presidency in 1800 and this time met with success Amongst a host of domes tic and foreign challenges Jefferson orchestrated per haps the greatest achievement of his tenure the Louisiana Purchase To Jefferson the land west of the Mississippi River represented new oppor for tunities and resources 9
Thomas Jefferson the United States When France decided to sell its territory between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains Jefferson took advantage of the situation Despite his reser vations about the constitutionality of such a purchase Jefferson forged ahead with nego tiations and purchased all the land for 15 million dollars thereby doubling the area of the United States He served another term as president before retiring in 1809 Even as he established himself as a pub lic figure Jefferson reserved room for his personal interests and private life In 1768 he designed a mansion near Shadwell Va which he called Monticello and maintained until his death He lived there with his wife Martha and their children Patsy and Polly He pur sued his love of architecture throughout his life designing the Virginia Capitol during his time as ambassador to France and the University of Virginia after his retirement Despite the clarity of thought and vision attributed to Jefferson he was not without his weaknesses For example his position on slavery appeared inconsistent and malleable over the course of his life Although Jefferson was a slave owner himself he initially advo cated ending the slave trade Later however he distanced himself from the antislavery
Introduction movement even supporting the expansion of slavery into new territories Following the death of his wife Jefferson’s personal life also became the subject of some controversy While in France Jefferson pursued an intimate relationship with a mar ried woman Later allegations surfaced of Jefferson’s affair with Sally Hemings one of his slaves and it is believed that Jefferson fathered at least one of her children While there is still some uncertainty surrounding the details of the relationship there is evi dence of a genetic link between Jefferson and at least some of Hemings offspring A consummate scholar and statesman Jefferson was a steady presence in a rapidly changing political and cultural environment and even his missteps cannot diminish his significance to history With a voice immor talized in the Declaration of Independence and a legacy that included expanding the size and stature of the United States Jefferson was invaluable in shaping the character of the nation 11
