Thomas Jefferson.

[Dealey Joe]

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 (April 2, 1743 O.S.) – July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence (1776) and the third President of the United States (1801–1809).At the beginning of the American Revolution, Jefferson served in the Continental Congress, representing Virginia. He then served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), barely escaping capture by the British in 1781. Just after the war ended, from mid-1784 Jefferson served as a diplomat, stationed in Paris, initially as a commissioner to help negotiate commercial treaties. In May 1785, he became the United States Minister to France. He was the first United States Secretary of State (1790–1793). During the administration of President George Washington, Jefferson advised against a national bank and the Jay Treaty. Upon leaving office, with his close friend James Madison he organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's policies, especially his desire to create a national bank. He and Madison secretly wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which attempted to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts and formed the basis of states' rights. [1]Elected president in what Jefferson called the Revolution of 1800, he oversaw a peaceful transition in power, purchased the vast Louisiana Territory from France (1803), and sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to explore the new west. Slavery already existed in the acquired territory and Congress did not pass laws to prohibit it. This contributed to the crisis of the Union a half century later. His second term was beset with troubles at home, such as the failed treason trial of his former Vice President Aaron Burr, and escalating trouble with Britain. Jefferson always distrusted Britain as a threat to American values. With Britain at war with Napoleon, he tried aggressive economic warfare, however his embargo laws stopped American trade, hurt the economy, and provoked a furious reaction in the Northeast.Jefferson was part of the Virginia planter elite and, as a tobacco planter, owned hundreds of slaves throughout his lifetime. Like many of his contemporaries, he viewed Africans as being racially inferior. He remained a widower for the rest of his life after his wife of eleven years, Martha Jefferson, died in childbirth. Their marriage produced six children. Even though there is some disagreement on the subject, modern Jeffersonian scholarship generally acknowledges that Thomas Jefferson was likely the father of all of his slave Sally Hemings' six children.A leader in The Enlightenment, Jefferson was a polymath who spoke five languages and was deeply interested in science, religion and philosophy. His interests led him to assist in creating the University of Virginia in his post-presidency years. While not an orator, he was an indefatigable letter writer and corresponded with many influential people in America and Europe. His views on slavery were complex, and changed over the course of his life. He was a leading American opponent of the international slave trade, and presided over its abolition in 1807. In the past, Jefferson has often been rated in scholarly surveys as one of the greatest U.S. presidents, though since the mid-twentieth century, historians have increasingly criticized him, particularly on the issue of slavery.

[Dealey Joe]

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.At 23, started his own law practice.At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America” and retired from his law practice.At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.At 33, took three years to revise Virginia?s legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.At 40, served in Congress for two years.At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.At 57, was elected the third president of the United States .At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.At 61, was elected to a second term as President.At 65, retired to Monticello .At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John AdamsThomas Jefferson knew because he studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God and His laws, and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.""When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ." -- Thomas Jefferson"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."-- Thomas Jefferson "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." -- Thomas Jefferson"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -- Thomas Jefferson"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."-- Thomas Jefferson"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."-- Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson said in 1802:"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banksand corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the peopleof all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."I wish we could get this out to everyone!!!I'm doing my part. Please do yours.

[Bob]

TJ hit the nail on the head here...I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. Thomas Jefferson

[ChristophMessner]

Great information, but shouldn't the threads on a jfk-murder-solved-forum be mainly about directly JFK-related things? I would rather regroup the more dictionary-type threads, like the recent ones from Joe Deley, into a "Forum-Dictionary" or "Forum-Knowledge-Archive". A forum is mainly a space for public discussion. General information can also be given by a link to wikipedia plus saying, what wikipedia still does not say, in a dictionary-article.

[Slav]

Great thread and info, we need another Jefferson as president today to straighten things out.I think this thread is directly related to JFK. Thomas Jefferson knew this was all going to happen.

[Dealey Joe]

We are seeking to bring a HIGHER, AND MORE INTELLIGENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTER-CONNECTEDNESS OF COMMON ISSUES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE JFK ASSASSINATION THAT PROVE KILLING JFK WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL.And to quote Wim: Understanding the JFK Assassination is to understand the world today. That was the Wim that I admired.

[kenmurray]

Thomas Jefferson quotes:http://jpetrie.myweb.uga.edu/TJ.html