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'''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 on George Mason's [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]]. Jefferson was also the first secretary of state (1789-1793), and the founder of the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Jeffersonian Republicans]] in 1792. This party dominated U.S. politics for many years. Jefferson "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 on George Mason's [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]]. Jefferson was also the first secretary of state (1789-1793), and the founder of the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Jeffersonian Republicans]] in 1792. This party dominated U.S. politics for many years. Jefferson "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. 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 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 neutrality. Just before Jefferson left office, the embargo was repealed and replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act. The failure of these tactics made war with Britain the next logical step. Jefferson had various dreamy schemes to end war and promote world peace. So the army was neglected and the navy [[John Adams]] built was allowed to deteriorate. When war came in 1812, the country was woefully unprepared.

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 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 neutrality. Just before Jefferson left office, the embargo was repealed and replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act. The failure of economic warfare made military war with Britain the next logical step. Jefferson was a utopian, enamored with dreamy schemes to end war and promote world peace. So the army was neglected and the navy [[John Adams]] built was allowed to deteriorate. When war came in 1812, the country was tragically unprepared.

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, a view hard to reconcile with Roosevelt's bloated New Deal regime. 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>

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, a view hard to reconcile with Roosevelt's bloated New Deal regime. 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>