The Paradoxical Legacy of Thomas Jefferson: Founding Father and Controversial Slaveholder

Abstract

[Name] Introduction [Author] is an iconic figure in United States History. Jefferson was born on April 13th, 1743, and spent most of his life impacting America as a nation and its populace in one way or the other until his death on July 4th, 1826, at 83. [Author] was born to Peter Jefferson, a planter/surveyor, and Randolph Jefferson. Though a self-educated surveyor, Peter Jefferson owned a tidy estate with 60 enslaved people offering Thomas a chance to enjoy slave services throughout his life. One can argue that Thomas's childhood experiences shaped his white supremacist nature, leading him to become one of America's most problematic and paradoxical heroes. Like his father, Thomas believed in white supremacy and thus expressed overreliance on slavery throughout his political life. However, Thomas remains significant to American history because he serves as this great nation's founding father, draftsman of the Declaration of Independence, and the First Secretary of the States between 1789 and 1794. Thomas also served as America's 2nd vice-president between 1797 and 1801, 3rd president between 1801 and 1809, the Statesman responsible for the Louisiana Purchase, the Early advocate of total separation of church and State (1803), and the founder and architect of the University of Virginia. All these involvements led Jefferson to accomplish a lot for America as a nation defining his influence in shaping the Americas’ history. One can argue [Author]'s parents as people who had their place within American society. The father amassed a tidy estate and over fifty enslaved people, while the mother descended from among the most prominent families in Virginia. However, Thomas did not enjoy the presence of both parents for a long time, as Peter Jefferson died in 1757 when Thomas was 14 years. However, being a single parented child did not stop Thomas from accomplishing his dreams. Thomas spent most of his time on books with William Small (a Scottish-born teacher in mathematics and science) and George Wythe (a leading legal scholar in Virginia) as his mentors.. Thomas learned law with Wythe from 1762 to 1767 and left Williamsburg to practice paying particular attention to cases involving land titles and claims, earning a reputation as a formidable legal scholar. Thomas married Martha Wayles Skelton in1772 and wrote a summary view of the rights of British America in 1774. Though published without Jefferson's permission, the summary enhanced his visibility beyond Virginia as a pioneer advocate of American independence from Great Britain. It was in 1768 that Thomas made two significant decisions that shaped his personal and political life in the long run. First, Thomas decided to build his home atop 867 feet of High Mountain and named it Monticello, and second, Jefferson chose to vie for House of Burgesses candidature. The two decisions combined an active political career with periodic seclusion in Thomas's private haven. The draftsman of the Declaration of Independence The Virginia legislature appointed Jefferson as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in 17752. At the age of 32, it is evident that Jefferson was young and energetic, thus very eager and ready to deliver America from the chains of its colonizers. Citing from the previous draft on the summary view of the rights of British America in 1774, it was clear in Jefferson's mind that gaining independence was the only way out of Great Britain’s parliamentary authority that proved dictatorial as it derailed the development of America as an independent nation. John Adams, one of his Congress colleagues, argues that though shy and rarely contributed to Congress debates, Jefferson expressed staunch consistency in his support for independence2. However, this great man took the role of draftsman of resolution and, together with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, formed a committee to draft a formal statement against British rule. The motive of this committee was to justify beyond reasonable doubt why Breaking with Great Britain was significant for both America and this Colonizer. Jefferson compiled the first draft listing grievances against George III aimed to express the American mind. After editing Jefferson's draft, Congress made no changes in the passage but his language making him a known principal author of the Americas Independence Declaration by 1790s2. The document remains influential in American history, making Jefferson a significant icon in United States History. It is also imperative to note that Jefferson served as the most eloquent American proponent of individual freedom as the core meaning of the American Revolution. An early advocate of total separation of church and State In October 1776, Jefferson left Congress and returned to Virginia, launching an extensive program to reform the States legal code and align it with American Revolution Principles. Serving as a Member of the New House of Delegates of Virginia, Jefferson worked closely with James Madison with their first mission aimed...