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'''Thomas Jefferson''' (1743-1826) was the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was one of early proponents of a [[Constitutional Republic]] in world history and one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States]]. He was the primary author of the [[Declaration of Independence]] (1776), relying heavily on the ideas in the [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]]. Jefferson was also the first Secretary of State (1789-1793), and the founder of one of the world's two first political parties, the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Jeffersonian Republicans]] (1792) in opposition to the [[Federalist Party]] of [[Alexander Hamilton]]. He "distrusted the federal government because he knew it would grow too large, become disconnected from the people, and be heir to the arrogance, insolence and prideful haughtiness that is the lot of the unrestrained ..."<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/16/pruden-winning-the-war-against-civility/ PRUDEN: Winning the war against ‘civility’] - Editorial in the ''[[Washington Times]]''</ref>

'''Thomas Jefferson''' (1743-1826) was the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the [[Declaration of Independence]] of 1776, which is based George Mason's [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]]. Jefferson was also the first secretary of state (1789-1793), and founded of the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Jeffersonian Republicans]] in 1792. This party dominated U.S. politics for many years. He "distrusted the federal government because he knew it would grow too large, become disconnected from the people, and be heir to the arrogance, insolence and prideful haughtiness that is the lot of the unrestrained ..."<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/16/pruden-winning-the-war-against-civility/ PRUDEN: Winning the war against ‘civility’] - Editorial in the ''[[Washington Times]]''</ref>

A friend of France and the French Revolution, and a bitter enemy of Britain in the 1790s, Jefferson soured on France after [[Napoleon]] came to power and ended democracy there. As president, Jefferson purchased the vast Louisiana Territory in 1803, but he was generally ineffective. He respond to British and French violations of U.S. neutrality by signing the [[Embargo Act of 1807]]. It was extended to Canada by a supplementary act passed in 1808. It led to economic problems in the United States and was unpopular. It also failed in its purpose of forcing the British navy to respect American shipping. Just before Jefferson left office, the embargo was repealed and replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act. The failure of these tactics made the [[War of 1812]] the next logical step. The Jeffersonians neglected the army and allowed the navy [[John Adams]] built to deteriorate. So the country was unready for war.

A friend of France and the French Revolution, and a bitter enemy of Britain in the 1790s, Jefferson soured on France after [[Napoleon]] came to power and ended democracy there. As president, Jefferson purchased the vast Louisiana Territory in 1803, but he was generally ineffective. During the Napoleanic Wars, both Britain and France violated American neutrality and attacked U.S. shipping. Jefferson responded by signing the [[Embargo Act of 1807]]. The embargo was extended to Canada by a supplementary act passed in 1808. It led to economic problems in the United States and was unpopular. It also failed in its purpose of forcing the British navy to respect American shipping. Just before Jefferson left office, the embargo was repealed and replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act. The failure of these tactics made the [[War of 1812]] the next logical step. The Jeffersonians neglected the army and allowed the navy [[John Adams]] built to deteriorate. So the country was unready for war when it came.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Jefferson was the South's favorite Founder Father while northerners preferred Hamilton. President Franklin Roosevelt did to much to promote the memory of Jefferson, and it now eclipses that of Hamilton. This is ironic since Jefferson advocated a minimal federal government and is thus not obviously the precursor to Roosevelt and the New Deal Democrats.  

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Jefferson was the South's favorite [[Founding Father]] while northerners preferred [[Alexander Hamilton]]. President Franklin Roosevelt did to much to promote the memory of Jefferson, and it now eclipses that of Hamilton. This is ironic since Jefferson advocated a minimal federal government that is obviously a precursor to Roosevelt's New Deal policies. Although Jefferson's party dissolved in 1825, the modern Democratic Party claims Jefferson as its founder. In 1998, DNA testing confirmed an old accusation that Jefferson had fathered children by [[Sally Hemings]], one of his slaves.<ref>"[http://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-brief-account Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: A Brief Account]", Thomas Jefferson Foundation.</ref> Jefferson was bankrupt when he died, so he was not able to free Sally or most of his other slaves.<ref>Schwabach, Aaron. "Thomas Jefferson, Slavery, and Slaves." ''Thomas Jefferson Law Review'' 33, no. 1 (Fall 2010): 1-60. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 16, 2014).</ref>

==Early career==

==Early career==

Jefferson was the third child born to a well-connected tobacco planter family of moderate wealth in Goochland County on Virginia's western frontier. His father, Peter Jefferson (1707-57), of Welsh descent, owned slaves and was a county magistrate who was elected to the House of Burgesses (the colonial legislature). His mother, Jane Randolph, belonged to the leading family in the British colony. Peter taught the boy farming; they hunted and fished together. His formal education began under two Anglican ministers. He became proficient in Latin and Greek and had later became proficient in French. He was also tutored in dancing, became polished on the violin, learned chess, avoided cards, and was a fearless and accomplished horseman. His father died in 1757 leaving him some slaves and 2,750 acres of undeveloped farmland.<ref>Merrill D. Peterson, ''Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation: A Biography'' (1975) ch. 1</ref>  

Jefferson was the third child born to a well-connected tobacco planter family of moderate wealth in Goochland County on Virginia's western frontier. His father, Peter Jefferson (1707-57), of Welsh descent, owned slaves and was a county magistrate who was elected to the House of Burgesses (the colonial legislature). His mother, Jane Randolph, belonged to the leading family in the British colony. Peter taught the boy farming; they hunted and fished together. His formal education began under two Anglican ministers. He became proficient in Latin and Greek and had later became proficient in French. He was also tutored in dancing, became polished on the violin, learned chess, avoided cards, and was a fearless and accomplished horseman. His father died in 1757 leaving him some slaves and 2,750 acres of undeveloped farmland.<ref>Merrill D. Peterson, ''Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation: A Biography'' (1975) ch. 1</ref>  

Jefferson was well educated at [[William and Mary College]] (class of 1762), and studied law. He was a polymath who read voraciously in history, politics, philosophy, linguistics, architecture and natural science.   He studied science with Dr. William Small, who introduce him to Gov. Francis Fauquier and to George Wythe, the leading legal expert of the day in Virginia, who directed Jefferson's reading in law.  He was a well-disciplined student who ignored the gambling and horse-racing of his peers to immerse himself in science law and history. He lost his Anglican religion along the way. He mastered the common law treatises of Sir [[Edward Coke]], and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1767. He was successful but did not enjoy the tasks and gave up his practice by 1774. However the lawyerly style reappears in his famous state papers where he acts the advocate pleading a cause and buttressing it with precedents. Jefferson was never a good speaker, but he excelled in learning and industry and in precision and clarity of writing. His written arguments are powerful; his "Declaration of Independence" remains the touchstone for powerful argumentation.

Jefferson was well educated at [[William and Mary College]] (class of 1762), and studied law. He was a polymath who read voraciously in history, politics, philosophy, linguistics, architecture and natural science. He studied science with Dr. William Small, who introduce him to Gov. Francis Fauquier and to George Wythe, the leading legal expert of the day in Virginia, who directed Jefferson's reading in law.  He was a well-disciplined student who ignored the gambling and horse-racing of his peers to immerse himself in science law and history. He lost his Anglican religion along the way. He mastered the common law treatises of Sir [[Edward Coke]], and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1767. He was successful but did not enjoy the tasks and gave up his practice by 1774. However the lawyerly style reappears in his famous state papers where he acts the advocate pleading a cause and buttressing it with precedents. Jefferson was never a good speaker, but he excelled in learning and industry and in precision and clarity of writing. His written arguments are powerful; his "Declaration of Independence" remains the touchstone for powerful argumentation.

==Patriot==

==Patriot==