Download Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson
His views on Government,
Economics and Human Nature
Jefferson and Foreign Relations
On Women, Blacks and Opportunity
Thomas Jefferson
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Born into a family of
wealth
He represents the
Republicans party,
they are strict
constructionists and
supporters of state
governments
Jefferson’s View on Government
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Strong supporter of
state’s rights
He had witnessed the
abuses of European
kings
Jefferson believes that
state governments
represent the people
better
An Agrarian Economy
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He believes that we
should be a nation of
farmers
Farmers are less likely
to be corrupt and selfserving like merchants
and businessmen
Farmers are tied to the
land and self sufficient
View on Human Nature
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Believed that the
“people” as long as
they were educated
could be trusted with
power
The “citizen”
according to Jefferson
was the bastion of
democracy
Thoughts on Foreign Relations
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Supported the French
Revolution because it was
a revolt of the poor class
against the monarchy and
the elites
The Revolution turns
bloody but Republicans
still support it
These actions horrified the
Washington Presidency
The French Revolution
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The French Revolution
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Views on Opportunity
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He struggled with the pure
thought of politically
equality
Women he believed were
too innocent, blacks weak
minded and Indians were a
hindrance to progress
Only white males
participate in government