Thomas Jefferson, born at Shadwell Plantation, inherited a vast estate after his father’s death. His early career saw him rise as a key figure in Virginia’s opposition to British rule and culminated in his authorship of the Declaration of Independence. As President, Jefferson’s major actions included the Louisiana Purchase and confronting the Barbary Pirates, despite challenges with constitutional limits..

 

Jefferson's journey began at Shadwell Plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. His father, a prosperous Virginian tobacco farmer, passed away when Thomas was just 14, leaving him the heir to the family's 14,000-acre plantation. Jefferson's academic pursuits led him to William and Mary College, where he honed his intellect, and later to the Virginia bar, where he was admitted in 1767.

From 1769 to 1774, Jefferson's voice echoed in the chambers of the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he emerged as a prominent figure among those who opposed British rule. His influence extended to the Continental Congress in 1775-1776, where he led the committee tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence, a pivotal moment in American history.

In 1779, Jefferson became governor of Virginia. From 1783-1784, he served as a member of the Continental Congress. He then became Foreign Minister to France. Jefferson developed a solid attachment for all things French. From 1790-93, Jefferson served as Secretary of State in Washington's cabinet, during which time, he advocated stronger ties with France.

Jefferson's commitment to a strict interpretation of the Constitution was unwavering. He believed in limiting the power of the federal government, a view that led to his resignation when George Washington sided with Hamilton on federal jurisdiction and relations with France. However, his dedication to public service saw him return to office from 1797-1801 as Vice President to John Adams, a testament to the trust and respect he commanded.
From the moment Jefferson was inaugurated, he began what he described as the Revolution of 1800. This was his attempt to repeal major actions that he felt the Federalists had taken to needlessly strengthen the hand of the Federal government. This included allowing the Alien and Sedition Act to lapse and repealing the federal whiskey tax. For all of Jefferson's changes, his Presidency was more one of stability than of change.

Jefferson was a leading advocate of strict interpretation of the Constitution. Despite this fact, he took two significant actions in his first term that, under a strict interpretation of the Constitution, he lacked the power to do. The first was to send forces against the Barbary Pirates. His orders to the force commander instructed him to take military action to end forced payment of ransom. The policy was successful, but Jefferson did not consult Congress before instructing this use of force.
Second, in secret negotiations, Jefferson agreed to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, which doubled the size of the United States. However, the constitution did not provide for the purchase of land.

During his second term, Jefferson insisted on maintaining American neutrality in the expanding European War. He felt compelled to pass an extremely unpopular embargo act banning all trade with the European belligerents. The high point of this second term was the return of Lewis and Clark from the American West. Their visit was the first organized exploration of much of what was to become part of the United States.