Notes

thomas jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and was in office for two terms, or eight years. During his time in office, he accomplished many things, including:
• reducing the national debt by one-half
• setting up a peace treaty with Tripoli
• banning the importation of slaves
• supporting the Louisiana Purchase
National debt is the amount of money that a country borrows from itself. This means that the country spent more money than it had. Thomas Jefferson was able to cut spending and increase revenue during his presidency.
The peace treaty with Tripoli was a milestone for the U.S. For years, the U.S. had been paying pirates on the Barbary Coast so that American ships could travel safely in the Mediterranean. In 1801, the ruler of Tripoli cut down the flagpole in front of the U. S. Consulate as a demand for more money. The navy was sent to Tripoli and remained there until 1805. American forces captured Derna, a port in Tripoli, in 1805. This action forced Tripoli to sign a peace treaty.

The ban on the importation of slaves was a major issue for Jefferson. Although he owned many slaves throughout his life, he was able to enact a law banning the importation of slaves into the United States.
The Louisiana Purchase was a great accomplishment for Jefferson. In 1803, the United States purchased from France the land around and beyond the Mississippi River for $.03 an acre. This purchase doubled the size of the United States and gave it control over the Mississippi River.

Thomas Jefferson considered himself a philosopher, not a politician. He also had many interests not related to politics. For example, he enjoyed studying astronomy and the weather, playing chess and the violin, and collecting maps and wine. After his presidency, Jefferson spent most of his time writing letters, reading, gardening, and inventing things that made life easier and more efficient in his home. The home he built at Monticello was one of his favorite projects.

Just after Thomas Jefferson’s death, a sketch was found showing what he wanted on his tombstone. This text was placed on his tombstone:

Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence
Of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom
And Father of the University of Virginia.

His home, Monticello, in Virginia, is a monument to his love of gardening and writing. The home is also full of inventions that Thomas Jefferson created to make life easier and more efficient. Jefferson spent most of his days after his presidency writing letters and reading books. He was fascinated by the study of astronomy and weather. Later in life, Jefferson collected maps and wine, and learned to play the violin. This amazing man never stopped learning.

Thomas Jefferson’s Proudest Moments
The building of Monticello, writing of the Declaration of Independence, and founding of the University of Virginia were considered by Thomas Jefferson to be his greatest accomplishments.
Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, but many felt it was too long. A later draft, which became the actual Declaration of Independence, was written in 1776 and signed on July 4th that same year.
Later in life, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, and in 1825, watched the first 40 students attend class. Jefferson was responsible for everything from creating the curriculum, buying books, and supervising construction, to hiring the faculty. It was truly a university of his design.

While serving as president of the United States for two terms, from 1801 to 1809, Thomas Jefferson accomplished many things. One of his major accomplishments was to cut the national debt in half. He was able to do so by cutting spending, while at the same time working to make more money for the country.

Another of Jefferson’s accomplishment during his presidency was the signing of a peace treaty with Tripoli. This treaty was necessary because pirates ruled the Barbary Coast, and the United States had been paying them off to keep its ships safe. Over ten years, the United States Government had paid Tripoli $2 million. When Tripoli wanted more money, the United States blockaded the ports of Tripoli. Eventually the United States military was able to force the government of Tripoli to respect U.S. possessions.

extra: Thomas Jefferson actually drafted the Declaration of Independence before his presidency.

Land and Slaves
Two of Thomas Jefferson’s major accomplishments which had lasting impact on history were the act of banning the importation of slaves into the United States, and the Louisiana Purchase.

Banning of the importation of slaves meant that the slave trade between the United States, Africa, and Europe was altered. Slavery still existed in the United States, but Thomas Jefferson hoped that his changes would eventually lead to the end of the slave trade.

Perhaps Jefferson’s greatest accomplishment was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This huge area of land was purchased in 1803 for $.03 an acre from France. This purchase doubled the size of the United States and gave it control over the Mississippi River. Jefferson sent future president James Monroe to France to make the purchase.

The Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, the French government presented the United States with an opportunity to purchase a large parcel of land beyond the Mississippi River. This purchase doubled the size of the growing United States. It also allowed poor farming families access to land and a chance for prosperity.
The Louisiana Purchase was a result of growing concern to have full use of the Mississippi River. This purchase of land would prove to be the largest transaction in history.
The Purchase
The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was given the Louisiana Territory by Spain after military victories in Europe. President Thomas Jefferson thought that France might want to control the Mississippi River. President Jefferson sent Robert Livingston and James Monroe to France to negotiate a deal for the sale of New Orleans. Surprisingly, they were given the opportunity to buy not only New Orleans but the whole Louisiana Territory.
The president did not have the power to purchase land. James Madison made the purchase. He paid $15 million for 828,000 square miles. The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the greatest achievements of Jefferson’s presidency.
Impact on Native Americans
Most of the residents were poor farmers and Native Americans. There was some talk among settlers that they should compensate the natives, but the majority of the settlers felt that their government had paid for the land, so it belonged to them. The native tribes were then forced off the land.
the deal
The western boundary of the United States was the Mississippi River until 1803, when James Monroe negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. At this time, American farmers were using the river to ship goods between the U.S. and other countries. Spain had control of the important port of New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The Spanish allowed the United States to freely use New Orleans for storage and shipping.
In 1800, a secret treaty between France and Spain had given Louisiana to the French. Thomas Jefferson was concerned about this, because he thought that France would want to control the Mississippi River and its trade. He also felt that France might want to take over the land that is present-day Florida.
Negotiations with France
James Madison was sent to France to warn Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France, that the United States expected to keep control of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. Napoleon tried to keep the new territory for France, but was unable to gain support because France was then at war with Britain.

James Monroe traveled to France to try to purchase the land surrounding the Mississippi River from Napoleon. Thomas Jefferson was the president at the time, but he could not purchase the land; only the secretary of state (who was James Madison) had that power. Napoleon originally did not want to sell the land, because he envisioned a French colony in the Americas. However, due to the situation with Britain, the French army was stretched thin, and Napoleon thought that the United States would forcefully take New Orleans.

We’ve Got a Deal!
On December 20, 1803, the United States officially took possession of the Louisiana Purchase. It had spent $15 million to purchase more than 800,000 square miles of land. This land purchase doubled the size of the United States and eventually provided land for 15 states. Most importantly, the United States held control of the Mississippi River.