Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated March 4, 1801. In his eight years in office he peacefully replaced Adams’s Federalist party, avoided a major war, changed unfair laws such as the naturalization law that had gone in effect during Adams’s presidency, and even passed a harsh Embargo Act to help keep the country physically out of war. However, his three most important legacies were the two-term tradition, his “Revolution of 1800” and the purchase of the Louisiana territory from the French. Technically, since it was George Washington who actually retired after eight years, most would say he is the father of the two-term tradition. Nevertheless Jefferson is the real father of the two-term tradition, which in 1951 was amended to the Constitution. Washington retired after eight years because he was “exhausted after the diplomatic and partisan battles of his second term,” while Jefferson left office after eight years because of his beliefs.
He believed that more than two terms served in office could, and probably would, open the door to dictatorship. Another legacy Jefferson left for us is his “Revolution of 1800.” Although what was great about it isn’t what Jefferson meant it to be, it still turned out to be a good thing. Nowadays, we think of this “Revolution” as being important because it was one of the few times in our history where the was such a peaceful transfer of power. Also, Jefferson’s moderation in his policies added to the benefits of the revolution, which in turn led to the two-party system that has become a basic part of our American politics. By moderation, it is meant that Jefferson kept most of the major Federalist programs while incorporating his own.
The Term Paper on Thomas Jefferson And French Neoclassicism
... the bloody revolution (Crow, 90). Precisely it was during Jefferson time when ... 2002. Ricardo, Andrew, The Neoclassical tradition, Prentice Hall, 2001. Brown, William, ... around this time. When Jefferson came to office he found some commissions ... has to remember that the term neoclassicism, describes works heavily influenced ... Johann Winckelmann, who spent many years in Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece ...
Probably Jefferson’s most important achievement in office was the purchase of the Louisiana territory. The purchase made a significant impact on the Americans and their culture. After Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the western territories many pioneers started turning their attentions westward in search of wealth. Jefferson’s purchase proved to be a landmark in American foreign policy which also boosted national unity.
