Washington vs Jefferson Essay Example

Treaty in 1795. In correspondence, Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States (1801–1809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776).

Jefferson was one of the most influential Founding Fathers, known for his encouragement of the ideals of republicanism in the United States. Jefferson was a great leader himself. The British and the French angered the Americans. To provide a solution, Thomas Jefferson enabled the Embargo Act in order to stay out of foreign affairs. Unfortunately, the act failed, but Jefferson knew that war was something greatly feared. He kept the nation out of war which greatly helped stabilize the government. One great accomplishment was the Louisiana Purchase (1804).

Jefferson considered himself a constructionist but he knew the advantages the Louisiana Purchase would bring to the United States. The Louisiana territory held onto by the French was eyed by the Americans as it had many appealing factors to it. It included the Mississippi river which was a great means of navigation for the Americans. Open and free access to the river would have been the ideal thing to have at the time. Jefferson decided to purchase Louisiana because he felt uneasy about France and Spain having the power to block American trade access to the port of New Orleans.

With this great purchase, it removed the French, a port was available to Midwestern farmers with the gain of New Orleans, and it greatly helped in America’s expansion. With these two great leaders, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, a stable government was established after the ratification of the constitution. They knew that staying out of foreign affairs was

the best way to help the nation, and did so along with many other issues. Both these men are viewed as positive influences, and their efforts were greatly admired.