Download Teresa Underhill Leadership Profile of Thomas Jefferson EDLE 5813

Teresa Underhill
Leadership Profile of Thomas Jefferson
EDLE 5813: Leadership Theory and Ethical Decision Making
December 10, 2011
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Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and one of the most
important Americans who ever lived. Jefferson fought for his country but he did not fight with a
gun, he fought with words. Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia on April 13, 1743 when
Virginia was just a colony and the United States did not yet exist. Jefferson came from a
wealthy family and entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg at the age of
sixteen. When he finished college he decided to be a lawyer studying not only law but also
history, science, geography and learned to read and write in six languages (Barrett, 1967). He
also loved the arts and taught himself to play the violin. Jefferson was a country lawyer at first
and was elected to the House of Burgesses at the age of 25. As a lawyer, Jefferson found the
King’s tax on every piece of paper which a lawyer used was wrong. He agreed with Patrick
Henry and George Washington that King George was a tyrant. Soon Jefferson found himself in
Philadelphia meeting with the Continental Congress. He was chosen to draft a paper to be sent to
the King declaring the independence of the colonies and creating the United States of America.
This paper is known as the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson then went to Virginia to help
make good, fair laws with religious freedom and separation of church and state (Bausum, 2001).
He soon became the governor of Virginia. As the Continental Congress was meeting again,
there was great discourse. Jefferson arrived back in Philadelphia and found that everyone talked
and no one wanted to listen. Finally they listened to Jefferson and agreed to his ideas of new
states and American money but would not agree to abolish slavery. Congress later asked
Jefferson to go to France to help with problems there. He became great friends with Frenchman
named Lafayette. They were working on a new plan for France but it was too late, a revolution
had begun. Jefferson hurried back to Virginia to find a warm welcome from those at his home
called Monticello. Soon he was off to New York City to be Secretary of State under George
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Washington. Jefferson was instrumental in changing the capital of the United States to a new
area of land given to the government by Maryland and Virginia called Washington. Jefferson
ran for president against John Adams, lost and became Vice President. Soon Jefferson would
run again and be voted as the third president of the United States. He was a very easy-going
president but double the size of country by purchasing the Louisiana territory from Napoleon for
only 15 million dollars. Jefferson was wise in sending Lewis and Clark to explore and map the
area for the United States (Bausum, 2001). Jefferson served two terms as president then returned
to Monticello to continue inventing, mentoring and living his life. Education was so important to
Jefferson that he designed and built the University of Virginia. On July 4, 1826 Thomas
Jefferson died. This was the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson Leadership
The type of leadership that Jefferson seemed to practice most would seem to be the
transformational approach. A transformational leader is confident, competent, and articulate and
they express strong ideals (Northouse, 2010). This is a perfect description of Thomas Jefferson.
Not only was he well educated but his writings are some of by which this country was founded.
Jefferson was a master of written language (Klinkenborg, 2009). The “Statute for Religious
Freedom” was written by Jefferson while serving in the Virginia Legislature. This idea was
adopted as one of the principles of the national government. Northouse (2010) also states that it
is common for transformational leaders to create a vision. Jefferson was extremely visionary
from his vision for a free and just country to his vision for quality education. Northouse (2010)
also explains that a transformational leader build trust and collaborate with others. Jefferson was
able to lead in this way at the local, state, national and international level. Jefferson and Adams
were at odds with each other for many of their early years but though trust and collaboration
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became to be partners and even dear friends. It is stated that while in office as President,
Jefferson had a round table made so that everyone sitting at it would feel equal (Library of the,
2007).
Thomas Jefferson’s agenda was not to be known as a traitor yet, if caught, the British
could have hung him. This did not stop Jefferson from sticking to his beliefs. Jefferson’s
leadership characteristics did not waver. His life was on the line on more than one occasion as
he was a leader in this new country (Rogers, 2010). Even though Jefferson’s personal life was
sometimes upended by the death of a child or his wife, he mourned appropriately and then
returned to the task at hand, leading and guiding our country. Even as he was out of the country
working in France, he kept in contact with James Monroe to help script the bill of rights for the
constitution. Jefferson was passionate about the freedoms which needed to be established and
protected for our new country.
As for the ethical nature of Jefferson, he studied the bible closely what he called the most
ethical man to walk the earth, Jesus. Thomas Jefferson let his own morals guide his passion to
help create laws that were just ( Klinkenborg, 2009). Probably one of Jefferson’s most
controversial ethical areas would be that of slavery. Even though he owned slaves, he included a
line in the Declaration of Independence condemning that institution and was disappointed when
Congress removed it. Jefferson took another step1808 when he, as President,banned the import
of slaves from Africa, and still yet he owned slaves. Jefferson owned over 100 slaves and freed
only a few.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the most important leaders in American history. If it were
not for his leadership, the United States may have broken into several independent states. With
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his help, the Bill of Rights was established and still hold true today. His vision and insightful
ideas still spark the interest of scholars throughout history. I think this project has helped me to
dissect the attributes of a leader and look deeply at their methods of leadership. I chose Thomas
Jefferson because I knew very little about him as a leader. I knew those things for which he was
famous but not what drove him to be the leader that he was and what he actually believed. I am
still interested in reading more about Thomas Jefferson. It would be interesting to do this
assignment again but this time choosing a leader who does not have a positive legacy. It would
be interesting to investigate how they came to power and the type of leadership they portray.
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Resources
(2007). Library of the presidents, history, facts, quotes. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s Digest
Children’s Books.
Bausum, A. (2001). Our country’s presidents. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
Barrett, M. (1967). Meet thomas Jefferson. New York, NY: Random House.
Klinkenborg, V. (2009, Thomas jefferson's beautiful mind. American History, 44(5), 40-43.
Northouse, P. G. (2010). Leadership theory and practice. (Fifth ed.). Los Angeles: Sage
Publications, Inc.
Rogers, M. (2010, Thomas jefferson. Cobblestone, 31(1), 42-43.
Thomas jefferson (1997). . United States, Washington, D.C.: National Public Radio.
Thomas jefferson's natural passion (2009). . United States, Washington, D.C.: National Public
Radio.