Thomas Jefferson: The Greatest American President

THOMAS JEFFERSON AS THE GREATEST AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Student's Name
Class Information
Date
Between 1788 to 1860, America was ruled by fourteen elected presidents, all of whom are famous in history for their contribution to the development and progress of American society on all fronts. Despite the fact that George Washington was one of the founding fathers and the first U.S. president, the contribution of Thomas Jefferson stands out amongst all the fourteen presidents of this particular era. Despite being one of the founding fathers and co-author of the Declaration of Independence, his multifarious skills as a philosopher, scientist, naturalist, and spiritual godfather significantly contributed to his popularity even amongst modern historians. Thomas Jefferson's role in drafting and enforcing the Bill of Religious Freedom even before his election as the president ingrained his status as the champion of civil liberty in the history of the United States. Furthermore, during his presidency, he made several decisions that proved significantly crucial for the long-term progress and development of American society, including The Louisiana Purchase, which ensured the survival of the Republican government. In the wake of these facts, the following paragraph provides circumstantial and concrete evidence to establish that Thomas Jefferson was the most popular president among other presidents that ruled in the given timeframe.[Finkelman, Paul. "Thomas Jefferson and antislavery: The myth goes on." The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 102, no. 2 (1994): 193-228.]
Thomas Jefferson ruled America from 1801 to 1809, and on account of his remarkable achievements, many scholars equate him with his very renowned successor: Abraham Lincoln. According to one scholar, in terms of contribution to the United States, Jefferson stands ahead of Lincoln as, despite Lincoln's immense contribution to the end of slavery, Jefferson did much more to reinforce the democratic foundation of the country. For instance, in 1792, he founded the Republican Party: the most popular political party in the history of the United States that has been bolstering democratic norms ever since its inception. Moreover, his contribution and personal interest in establishing the University of Virginia that earned him the title of "the Father of Virginia University" also reflects his interest in educating the populace. Other than establishing a university in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson also advocated and proposed a uniform education system to educate the general public. These historical facts reveal his political doctrine based on the finest democratic ideals that envisioned American society as an educated, pluralistic, and democratic one.[Finkelman, p. 193] [Ibid]
Another notable contribution toward establishing a pluralistic and democratic American society was his hatred of religious intolerance. One of the outcomes of his efforts to establish religious tolerance in American society was the drafting and enforcement of the famous Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom that the Virginia General Assembly duly approved on January 16, 1876. This bill was a significant development for American society as it heralded final approval of the protection of religious rights under the first amendment. Accordingly, Jefferson's efforts culminated in establishing a religiously tolerant American society and today's American norms and values owe much to Jefferson in this regard. Through this bill, Jefferson was successfully able to sever government financial help to the Church and, thereby, saved considerable state revenue. Jefferson's efforts to establish religious freedom bespeak his philosophy of life in the Declaration of Independence; he categorically argued that God of the Universe had given the freedom to all human beings to choose the belief they desire. Therefore, his philosophy of pluralism led to the establishment of a strong, religiously tolerant human society on the face of the earth.[Jefferson, Thomas. "A bill for establishing religious freedom." Daedalus 132, no. 3 (2003): 49-51.] [Ibid]
Jefferson loved American freedom as he knew the price the Americans had to pay to gain this freedom. Therefore, he made his utmost efforts to defend and strengthen his country's geographical and ideological boundaries. He hated the British Empire since he considered it a continuous threat to the existence of the United States, and for the same reason, he encouraged and supported a domestic movement aimed to break ties with the British government. In another instance of neutralizing threats to his country, Jefferson offered assistance to Napoleon to undermine the establishment of a black republic in Haiti since he feared the presence of a black republic near the coasts of the United States. These efforts provide a glimpse into Jefferson's love for American soil and society as he wanted to defend and protect them at any cost; undoubtedly, these efforts earned him a reputation of more of a messiah for the Americans. For the same reason, as one scholar points out, Thomas Jefferson's personality has gained a reputation of a virtual deity as this image is deeply ingrained in the minds and souls of the public, media, and intelligentsia alike.[Finkelman, p. 203] [Ibid]
Several examples of Thomas Jefferson's veneration amongst scholars, politicians, and even American presidents are available to substantiate the grandeur of his personality. For instance, a much later republican president, Ronald, was such a great admirer of Jefferson's personality and services that he vehemently urged his followers to "pluck a flower from Thomas Jefferson's life and wear it in our soul forever." Moreover, Jefferson's popularity was not only limited to a particular faction of society; instead, he enjoyed similar popularity amongst both liberals and democrats. Similarly, a famous historian and biographer, James Parton, wrote, "if Jefferson was wrong, America is wrong." This statement further makes precise Jefferson's significance in the very ideology of today's America and endorses the crucial significance of his efforts and ideals for the survival of the nation.[Finkelman, p. 194]
One of the somewhat negative aspects of his tenure as a president that scholars and political scientists point out is his reluctance toward anti-slavery laws. One of the...