The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson arguably had a more impactful presidency than George Washington. Washington established the office, but Jefferson set the tone for the executive branch for over a century. His First Inaugural and Sixth Annual Message also provided all of the intellectual firepower for the Democratic-Republicans, the National Republicans, and later Whig parties. Jefferson's first term is a beautiful revolution of limited government; his second, the origins of Henry Clay's Whiggism and an abject disaster.

I've written that Jefferson's first term tried to save America. His second created the climate that led to the sectional crisis.

This is typical Jefferson. He can be and has been something to every American. His presidency, then, should not have been different.

We cover Jefferson's domestic goals, his vision of the West, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Aaron Burr problem, his vexing foreign policy, and the partisan responses to his policy prescriptions, both from his supporters and his political foes.

This class is an essential study in the growth and development of the American federal republic.