History Jefferson s Dilemma - 1235 Words

Lesli Neyland History 1301 Jefferson’s Dilemma On December 20, 1803, America as colonists knew it would forever be changed in an event that would be remembered in history for framing the way we acquire lands in America through our constitution. The Louisiana Purchase was the first real eye-opener to Americans on how our constitution should be interpreted. Thomas Jefferson, the president at the time, had to make an executive decision that would change lives greatly, whether the outcome good or bad. Jefferson believed in a strict interpretation of the constitution, but in order to make this deal he was going to have to stretch his beliefs a substantial amount. The other people who believe that the constitution should be followed down to the last comma no matter the circumstances, did not see eye to eye with Jefferson’s decision. I am on Jefferson’s side of the debate and believe that his decision was for the greater good of the American people. Thomas Jefferson already had intentions on buying New Orleans from France because it was one of the most important shipping ports and it was also located at the mouth of the Mississippi. The United States was worried that if France kept hold of New Orleans they would soon dominate the river ports and seek access to the Gulf of Mexico. Jefferson stated that â€Å"The day that France takes possession of New Orleans†¦we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation.† He did not think that they could hold up against France if theyShow MoreRelatedThomas Jefferson s Dilemma On The Louisiana Purchase1065 Words   |  5 PagesGabriel Quarcoo Mr. D Nesmith History 1301.06 October 24th, 2014 Thomas Jefferson’s Dilemma on the Louisiana Purchase In our day, we consider the boarders of the United States impenetrable and inevitable. We tend to forget that the nation started off as a little country which consisted of 13 states, occupying the Atlantic Seaboard, which is only is small portion of what it is now. The county before the 1803 depended on its resources for agriculture, mining and logging. The need for more land forRead MoreThe Louisiana Purchase Shaped America988 Words   |  4 Pages Thomas Jefferson a leader of the Republican Party had long imagined an empire of Liberty that would span â€Å"North America.† (Sparknotes.com, 2014) Thomas Jefferson probably never knew beforehand that acquiring that empire would require a great deal of strain that would test his ability to make America great. Jefferson wanted America to be great and he knew that in order to do that he had to somehow act in the best interest of America to acquire Louisiana. In the midst of acquiring Louisiana JeffersonRead MoreDiffering Perspectives on Hope in Start Where You Are by Chodron and a Letter from Thomas Jefferson848 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhist nun, one can only be successful if they give up all hope of succeeding. In her article, â€Å"Start Where You Are†, Chodron shares her perspective on Buddhism and how giving up hope is the solution to all problems. On the other hand, Thomas Jefferson advocates hope by persuading his nephew in a letter to always strive to become bet ter. These two authors provide readers with two very different views on how one could live an exceeding life. In the article, â€Å"Start Where You Are†, Pema Chodron statesRead MoreDavid Sehat s The Jefferson Rule Essay1697 Words   |  7 PagesIn The Jefferson Rule, David Sehat outlines the history of American politics and provides exceptional insight on the government from the Founder’s points of view. More particularly, Sehat focused on the title of the book, The Jefferson Rule, to guide him on his journey through historical reflection. As he dug deeper into more and more historical events throughout the book, he made a point to tie each affair back to his key point – the Jefferson Rule. He did an excellent job of explaining each historicalRead MoreThe State Of The Louisiana Territory1616 Words   |  7 Pagesbusiness transaction as one might think. It was a very rushed, stressful process that caused President Thomas Jefferson a considerable amount of mental and emotional anguish. The problem that was the Louisiana purchase can be broken into three parts: Jefferson ’s dilemma, Jefferson’s decision, and the consequences. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most influential events in American history because it helped not only double the size of the US in the early 1800s, but also helped the United States’Read MoreEssay about A Rose For Emily1284 Words   |  6 Pagesa note on paper of an archaic shape, in a thin, flowing calligraphy in faded ink, to the effect thats he no longer went out at all. The tax notice was enclosed, without comment.quot; (189). Miss Emily was convinced that she had no taxes in Jefferson because before the Civil War the South didnt have to pay taxes and since her father had made a contribution to the town of a generous amount, Colonel Sartoris, mayor at that time had remitted her taxes, she felt that that promise or rather giftRead MoreRacial Discrimination And Related Treatment Of African Americans Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pagesrooted in American culture. In fact, it can be traced to the Founding Fathers. As history tells us, two of the most famous Founding Fathers owned slaves, and it goes without saying that for one to justify another’s enslavement—as did wealthy American colonials—that person would have to hold to the belief that the slave is by definition, and inferior being. Our first and third presidents: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave owners and their treatment of African Americans is well documentedRead MoreBook Report Meaning of Independence Essay812 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant men namely john Adams, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who were the first to seek independence for themselves and their country people. This is a beautiful book is written by Edmund S. Morgan in 1976. Who was also the writer of popular bo oks such as Benjamin Franklin (2002) , Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America (1988), which won Columbia Universitys Bancroft Prize in American History in 1989, and American Slavery, American Freedom (1975), whichRead MoreDevelopments in American History Over Four Centuries Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesThis essay will discuss five significant developments in American History from discovery until 1877. They are as follows: The American Revolution (1775-1783), the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Ratification of the Constitution (1787), the Louisiana Purchase (1803), and the Civil War (1861-1865). Though American history has experienced many developments over the years, it is the firm belief of the author that these five developments were instrumental in propelling thirteenRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The Constitution1430 Words   |  6 PagesChristy Cline History Professor Felix When the founding fathers wrote the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, they wrote them with the future in mind. In the newspaper and TV headlines today, many of the topics in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are even more relevant and hotly debated today than back then. But they each have a different purpose and handle many topics differently. This essay will compare the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in three