Or more commonly referred to as:
POLITICS
EFFECTS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON'S POLICIES
“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past,” (Ellis, 387). Thomas Jefferson wrote these words in a letter to John Adams while at Monticello, when he declared his dreams for our nation clear in his first inaugural address in Washington D.C., in 1801. In his quiet, yet compelling manner, he explained his policies and ideals to a welcoming crowd. At a time when people were clamoring for change, the question was could his policies and ideals bring about the appropriate change for our young nation? Without a doubt, Jefferson made his dreams for our nation a reality. Jefferson’s belief in a less powerful federal government, the importance of decreasing our national debt, reducing the size of the military, and in being friendly with other nations, while steering clear of “foreign entanglements,” laid the foundation for his presidency and for our future.
Before he came into office the Jay Treaty, XYZ Affair, The Alien and Sedition Act, and the restriction of states rights were causing national and international turmoil. History has shown that Thomas Jefferson’s vision and policies for affected his term as president in a positive way, and more importantly, created a sound beginning for our nation.
Thomas Jefferson believed in strong local and state government , as opposed to a strong federal government and in this way considered himself a pure republican. He felt that the less federal government interference, the better. He believed that states should have the ultimate authority over their own affairs with the exception of military concerns. In his inaugural address Jefferson also stated that the state government was the most effective way to solve citizen’s concerns and problems. This policy, he felt, would provide “the sheet anchor of our peace at home, and safety abroad”(Jefferson's Inaugural Address ). In 1798 Jefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition acts passed by congress with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolution that declared a state should have the ability to “nullify a federal law within its own borders even describing federal intrusion in state matters as interference by a foreign government.” ( Ellis, 179). In this way, he made sure his actions supported his beliefs.
Jefferson, in his inaugural address spoke of his policy to lower the national debt. He said he wanted to create a “wise and frugal government.”(Jefferson's Inaugural Address) He did this by significantly lowering the national debt from $112 million according to one source (Ellis, 194 ) and $80 million according to source (Bernstein, 148) to 45 million. He appointed the Swiss born Gallatin to be Secretary of the treasury, who shared the same common goal with him. During his presidency Jefferson and Gallitan lowered the debt by reducing government spending. The debt was also lowered by cutting military spending, reducing the number of federal employees, selling western land and collecting fees from foreign trade. Even though they were lowering the debt they also managed to fund the Lewis and Clark Expedition, carry out the Louisiana Purchase, and the fight against the Barbary pirates. Thomas Jefferson was quite successful in realizing his policy of lowering the national debt during his term as president.
During his term as President, Jefferson felt the need to reduce the size of the military, as he wanted to avoid wars with Europe at all costs and to promote ”peace, commerce, and honest friendship, with all nations--entangling alliances with none” (Jefferson’s Inaugural Address, and Ellis,181) An example of a foreign entanglement was the passage of the Jay Treaty in the years before his presidency. Jefferson felt the treaty forced the United States to be aligned with England ant we owed the French our loyalty. The Louisiana purchase and the war with the Barbary Pirates were exceptions to his foreign policy. Jefferson wanted to reduce government spending. The Barbary pirates were forcing the US ships to pay a bribe to safely pass. Jefferson sent over the navy to engage the pirates. The war with the pirates ended with one last payment and safe passage in the future for the U.S. Ultimately because of the Barbary incident , Jefferson decided not to reduce the size of the navy. The second “foreign entanglement” was the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson learned that Spain had secretly given the Louisiana territory to France and he was nervous about France this close to America. He wanted to buy the French territory even though it was against his policy of lowering the national debt and avoiding “foreign entanglements”. Conveniently, France needed money to fund its current war. So they offered the land to us for 15 million dollars,and Jefferson gladly accepted. This doubled the size United States. And it served as an appreciating asset.
Although Jefferson wanted to stay away from treaties and alliances with countries. He still wanted to remain friendly with other nations. If we were not friendly with other nations then we would exchange less trade and create enemy's which might cause war and increase our debt even more. Jefferson believed that if we were friendly with all nations then it would allow us to have a much smaller military. He believed that If we avoided being friends with one nation and not with another would allow us to also avoid multiple treaties with countries which might increase this problem even more.
Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address was a primary document written on march 4, 1801. President Adams presented some difficult problems for Jefferson to solve like national debt, a strong federal government, large military, foreign discord, fallout from the Alien and Sedition acts, the Jay treaty, and the XYZ Affair. Jefferson stated, in his address, that he would solve these issues in his presidency. Adams created a big central government through debt. Jefferson believed that "Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance.. will invite public agents to corruption, plunder and waste." (ME,10:167) . Jefferson also wanted to remove the debt that Adams created on his quest to make the government stronger. In Jefferson’s Inaugural Address he was going to use others to help him, “I shall find resources of wisdom, of virtue , and of zeal, on which to rely under all difficulties” (Jefferson’s Inaugural Address). He appointed Gallatin as his Secretary of the Treasury to help remove the debt and find funds for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson sought to cut the large military that Adams had been building up because he believed that it was unnecessary. Other countries seemed to be getting angry at us for being more friendly with one nation than with another. Jefferson believed that we should be friends with other nations but preserve our independence. Jefferson found the flaws of our nation and he attempted to the best of his ability to solve them and in his own words said, ” We shall put her back on her republican tack, and she will show by the beauty of her motion the skill of her builders.”(Ellis, 186)
WORKS CITED
1. Cappon, Adams-Jefferson Letters, 483-85. Also printed in L&B, 15:56-59.
2. First Inaugural Address. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 33. Princeton University Press,1801.
3.Ellis, Joseph J. American Sphinx, The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1996.
4. Bernstein, R.B. Thomas Jefferson, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.
5. Lipscomb and Bergh, editors. The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Memorial Edition,Washington D.C., 1903-04.
~Khaki Ninja
Before he came into office the Jay Treaty, XYZ Affair, The Alien and Sedition Act, and the restriction of states rights were causing national and international turmoil. History has shown that Thomas Jefferson’s vision and policies for affected his term as president in a positive way, and more importantly, created a sound beginning for our nation.
Thomas Jefferson believed in strong local and state government , as opposed to a strong federal government and in this way considered himself a pure republican. He felt that the less federal government interference, the better. He believed that states should have the ultimate authority over their own affairs with the exception of military concerns. In his inaugural address Jefferson also stated that the state government was the most effective way to solve citizen’s concerns and problems. This policy, he felt, would provide “the sheet anchor of our peace at home, and safety abroad”(Jefferson's Inaugural Address ). In 1798 Jefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition acts passed by congress with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolution that declared a state should have the ability to “nullify a federal law within its own borders even describing federal intrusion in state matters as interference by a foreign government.” ( Ellis, 179). In this way, he made sure his actions supported his beliefs.
Jefferson, in his inaugural address spoke of his policy to lower the national debt. He said he wanted to create a “wise and frugal government.”(Jefferson's Inaugural Address) He did this by significantly lowering the national debt from $112 million according to one source (Ellis, 194 ) and $80 million according to source (Bernstein, 148) to 45 million. He appointed the Swiss born Gallatin to be Secretary of the treasury, who shared the same common goal with him. During his presidency Jefferson and Gallitan lowered the debt by reducing government spending. The debt was also lowered by cutting military spending, reducing the number of federal employees, selling western land and collecting fees from foreign trade. Even though they were lowering the debt they also managed to fund the Lewis and Clark Expedition, carry out the Louisiana Purchase, and the fight against the Barbary pirates. Thomas Jefferson was quite successful in realizing his policy of lowering the national debt during his term as president.
During his term as President, Jefferson felt the need to reduce the size of the military, as he wanted to avoid wars with Europe at all costs and to promote ”peace, commerce, and honest friendship, with all nations--entangling alliances with none” (Jefferson’s Inaugural Address, and Ellis,181) An example of a foreign entanglement was the passage of the Jay Treaty in the years before his presidency. Jefferson felt the treaty forced the United States to be aligned with England ant we owed the French our loyalty. The Louisiana purchase and the war with the Barbary Pirates were exceptions to his foreign policy. Jefferson wanted to reduce government spending. The Barbary pirates were forcing the US ships to pay a bribe to safely pass. Jefferson sent over the navy to engage the pirates. The war with the pirates ended with one last payment and safe passage in the future for the U.S. Ultimately because of the Barbary incident , Jefferson decided not to reduce the size of the navy. The second “foreign entanglement” was the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson learned that Spain had secretly given the Louisiana territory to France and he was nervous about France this close to America. He wanted to buy the French territory even though it was against his policy of lowering the national debt and avoiding “foreign entanglements”. Conveniently, France needed money to fund its current war. So they offered the land to us for 15 million dollars,and Jefferson gladly accepted. This doubled the size United States. And it served as an appreciating asset.
Although Jefferson wanted to stay away from treaties and alliances with countries. He still wanted to remain friendly with other nations. If we were not friendly with other nations then we would exchange less trade and create enemy's which might cause war and increase our debt even more. Jefferson believed that if we were friendly with all nations then it would allow us to have a much smaller military. He believed that If we avoided being friends with one nation and not with another would allow us to also avoid multiple treaties with countries which might increase this problem even more.
Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address was a primary document written on march 4, 1801. President Adams presented some difficult problems for Jefferson to solve like national debt, a strong federal government, large military, foreign discord, fallout from the Alien and Sedition acts, the Jay treaty, and the XYZ Affair. Jefferson stated, in his address, that he would solve these issues in his presidency. Adams created a big central government through debt. Jefferson believed that "Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance.. will invite public agents to corruption, plunder and waste." (ME,10:167) . Jefferson also wanted to remove the debt that Adams created on his quest to make the government stronger. In Jefferson’s Inaugural Address he was going to use others to help him, “I shall find resources of wisdom, of virtue , and of zeal, on which to rely under all difficulties” (Jefferson’s Inaugural Address). He appointed Gallatin as his Secretary of the Treasury to help remove the debt and find funds for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson sought to cut the large military that Adams had been building up because he believed that it was unnecessary. Other countries seemed to be getting angry at us for being more friendly with one nation than with another. Jefferson believed that we should be friends with other nations but preserve our independence. Jefferson found the flaws of our nation and he attempted to the best of his ability to solve them and in his own words said, ” We shall put her back on her republican tack, and she will show by the beauty of her motion the skill of her builders.”(Ellis, 186)
WORKS CITED
1. Cappon, Adams-Jefferson Letters, 483-85. Also printed in L&B, 15:56-59.
2. First Inaugural Address. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 33. Princeton University Press,1801.
3.Ellis, Joseph J. American Sphinx, The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1996.
4. Bernstein, R.B. Thomas Jefferson, New York, Oxford University Press, 2003.
5. Lipscomb and Bergh, editors. The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Memorial Edition,Washington D.C., 1903-04.
~Khaki Ninja
With New Leaks, Nation Increasingly Disappointed with NSA
It seems as if every other week new information surfaces about the actions of the National Security Agency. It all started with the leaks of former NSA employee Edward Snowden, who told the Guardian newspaper about the NSA program known as PRISM which has the power to spy on anyone's internet activity in America for any reason at all. Since then there has been leak after leak, which have ultimately amounted to the revelation that the NSA can spy on anyone anywhere in the world at anytime for any reason. With every new leak the American people, as well as the people of other nations, have become ever increasingly shocked by the unbelievable inability of this alleged "spy" agency to carry out relatively simple "secret" activities.
"Like seriously," says security expert Dr. Howard McCallum, "shouldn't they be able to hide this a little better? Its kind of their job". In his investigations of the NSA's actions, Dr. McCallum has noted that the NSA is engaging in "some seriously shoddy espionage" and that thay are "really having some trouble keeping this sh*t under wraps". According to Dr. McCallum, the NSA is basically doing everything wrong. The NSA's first mistake was adopting the practice of allowing employees such as Edward Snowden to leave. In an effective spy agency, employees should be monitored constantly and kept on the premises at all times. All employees should be completely disconnected from family, friends and all other contact with the outside world. If an employee expresses a desire to quit, performs poorly enough to be fired or runs away, they should either have their memory wiped completely or be swiftly assassinated. "Edward Snowden never should have made it out of the building" says McCallum.
Dr. McCallum is not the only one to be thoroughly disappointed by the NSA's poor performance, our polls show that over 62% of America is outraged that their government is failing to do its job of spying on them and everyone else without their knowledge, while 27% were completely oblivious to the leaks and don't know what NSA stands for. The other 8% are terrorists and we have already transmitted their personal information to the NSA. (You're welcome, America). The general consensus of Americans and people all over the world is clearly that the NSA really needs to step up their game here.
"If the US government is monitoring my every email, text, phone call, and movement, I really think they should work a little harder on making sure I don't know that" says German Chancellor Angela Merkel, "in fact I personally contacted President Obama to let him know that he should really put a bit more effort into strengthening America's espionage department. Its really quite pathetic at the moment." She added that Germany's spy agency doesn't have any of these problems, and she was about to say more, but was distracted my the red laser pointed at her forehead and refused to comment further.
"Like seriously," says security expert Dr. Howard McCallum, "shouldn't they be able to hide this a little better? Its kind of their job". In his investigations of the NSA's actions, Dr. McCallum has noted that the NSA is engaging in "some seriously shoddy espionage" and that thay are "really having some trouble keeping this sh*t under wraps". According to Dr. McCallum, the NSA is basically doing everything wrong. The NSA's first mistake was adopting the practice of allowing employees such as Edward Snowden to leave. In an effective spy agency, employees should be monitored constantly and kept on the premises at all times. All employees should be completely disconnected from family, friends and all other contact with the outside world. If an employee expresses a desire to quit, performs poorly enough to be fired or runs away, they should either have their memory wiped completely or be swiftly assassinated. "Edward Snowden never should have made it out of the building" says McCallum.
Dr. McCallum is not the only one to be thoroughly disappointed by the NSA's poor performance, our polls show that over 62% of America is outraged that their government is failing to do its job of spying on them and everyone else without their knowledge, while 27% were completely oblivious to the leaks and don't know what NSA stands for. The other 8% are terrorists and we have already transmitted their personal information to the NSA. (You're welcome, America). The general consensus of Americans and people all over the world is clearly that the NSA really needs to step up their game here.
"If the US government is monitoring my every email, text, phone call, and movement, I really think they should work a little harder on making sure I don't know that" says German Chancellor Angela Merkel, "in fact I personally contacted President Obama to let him know that he should really put a bit more effort into strengthening America's espionage department. Its really quite pathetic at the moment." She added that Germany's spy agency doesn't have any of these problems, and she was about to say more, but was distracted my the red laser pointed at her forehead and refused to comment further.
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