FREE ESSAY ON JEFFERSON PRINCIPLES

JEFFERSON PRINCIPLES

ureAlex Marion
Mr. Uremovic per 2
10/5/00
Thomas Jefferson is remembered in history not only for the offices he held, but also for
his belief in the natural rights of man as expressed in the Declaration of Independence
and his faith in the people's ability to govern themselves. Through his political career,
Thomas Jefferson advocated democratic principles and adhered to his liberal ideology.
However, as a president he found it difficult to maintain these policies in the noisy
arena of politics. Consequently, circumstances forced him to reverse himself in some
degree on these concepts.
When he was voted into the presidency, Jefferson devoted a major section of his inaugural
address to the "'the essential principles of our government, and consequently those which
ought to shape it's administration'" (Cunningham). Here he reiterated his basic political
principles and the leading policies that he had professed as a candidate, which he now
restated as the guiding pillars of his administration. He began by affirming "'equal and
exact justice to all his men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.'"
Next, Jefferson proclaimed, "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations,
entangling alliances with none." He then went on to affirm his commitment to the rights
of the states and the preservation of the central government. Continuing to intermingle
general principles and specific policies, that new president declared that he favored
reliance for defense on a "militia rather than an army, a small navy" (Cunningham) and
prosperity through "economy, the payment of debts, and the encouragement of agriculture
and commerce as its handmaid." He also emphasized basic rights such as freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, and impartially selected juries. "These principles," Jefferson
concluded, "form the brightest constellation, which has gone before us and guided our
steps through an age of revolution and reformation... They should be the creed of our
political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which we try the
services of those we trust." Unfortunately for Jefferson, marinating this creed would not
be easy during this period of history.
Jefferson maintained his governing principles throughout the most part of his presidency.
Most of them, however, were forced to be compromised. One of the first examples deals
with the excise tax, a policy left by Hamilton. Jefferson strongly disliked this tax
because "it bred bureaucrats and bore heavily on his farmer following" (Bailey, Kennedy,
Cohen). By repealing this tax, Jefferson was forced to abandon his belief on paying
debts, thus costing the federal government about a million dollars a year in urgently
needed revenue. 
Jefferson also had difficulty improving state rights and taking power from the federal
government. As a result of the famous Marbury v. Madison case, Chief Justice John
Marshall created the idea of "judicial review" by ruling that the Judiciary Act of 1789
was unconstitutional. This resulted in the Supreme Court having the final word on the
interpretation of the constitution. Jefferson tried allotting this power to the states in
his Kentucky Resolutions. Due to Marshall's ruling, Jefferson was unable to follow his
principle of state rights and grant these states additional powers.
Perhaps more contradictory to Jefferson's principles was the conflict with Tripoli and
the Barbary pirates. Jefferson had long supported international pacifism and a small navy
and militia. Pirate raids and tributes along the Barbary Coast eventually compelled
Jefferson to desert these noninterventionist policies and dispatch a navy. He did so
without congressional approval, an act contradictory to his belief of majority will. His
expanded navy of small gunboats successfully ended the conflict with a treaty of peace in
1805. 
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803, moreover, was a more poignant example of Jefferson
contradicting his principles. Spain was planning to cede Louisiana back to France, which
Jefferson could not allow. With a leader like Napoleon nearby, conflict was inevitable.
The result would force America into an alliance with Britain, which strongly violated
Jefferson's anti-entanglement policy and would still lead to conflict. Jefferson's only
other option was to purchase the Louisiana territory from France, which would greatly
expand America's western frontier. The price, however, was expensive and left a dent in
America's wallet. Jefferson also needed to act unconstitutionally in purchasing the land,
which also violated his idea of "preservation of general government." Without time to
pass an amendment to the constitution, Jefferson passed his purchase through congress
anyway. Once again, Jefferson battled between two options that were both against his
principles.
Jefferson's second presidential term proved to be more difficult for him than the first
in maintaining his promises. Tensions between Britain, France, and America were
increasing. In June 1807, the British ship Leopard stopped the United States frigate
Chesapeake. When the Chesapeake refused to permit a search, the Leopard fired upon it.
The helpless American ship was thereupon forced to surrender four of its men. One was a
British deserter, but three were Americans. Many Americans wanted to go to war against
Britain over this incident. However, Jefferson was determined to avoid war, feeling he
could bring Britain to terms by applying economic pressure. In December 1807, the
Congress passed the Embargo Act. American ships were forbidden to sail from American
ports to any European port. Jefferson believed that England and France could not survive
without American trade. However, he had greatly underestimated the effect of the embargo
on the United States itself. All parts of the country were affected, especially the
industrial and commercial North. In order to avoid war, Jefferson was forced to act
against two of his principles by risking American commerce and terminating friendly
relationships with other nations. 
Despite the unavoidable circumstances that caused his actions, Jefferson still proved to
be one of the most valued presidents. His ideas, firmly established in the Declaration of
Independence, are the foundation of modern society. Current politicians and citizens
value many of his principles as well.