How The Popularity And Perception Of Thomas Jefferson Changed Over Time

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Reviving Jefferson
How the popularity and perception of Thomas Jefferson changed over time
Thomas Jefferson served the American people in various capacities in his lifetime. His legacy and contribution to the founding of the United states was undeniably historic. The purchase of Louisiana and declaration of independence are some of the key moments of his public tenure. Jefferson presidency drew a lot of criticism from his enemies and public and he retired semi-disgraced despite his efforts to steer the young democracy towards economic and political independence CITATION Jon17 \l 1033 (Jones, 2017). Though Jefferson was inclined to formation of a more democratic and decentralized government, he understood the importance of executive powers. His main political rival, Hamilton who was federalist projected Jefferson to adopt executive power privileges to maintain his political agendas on course. He changed the historical course by purchasing Louisiana sub silentio and doubled the size of the country CITATION Jon17 \l 1033 (Jones, 2017). The purchase was shrouded by friction by the other arms of government but he managed to purchase the land which was one of his four executive orders he ever issued.
In his later years of his presidency, he was marred by criticism especially regarding a scandal with a slave and the embargo act he issued during the French-British war. He also accumulated a lot of debts before he passed on and his children had to sell some of his property to offset his debts. The disgrace was also heightened by his political rivals who demonized his actions and political course to advance their own agenda of consolidating federal power. Therefore, over the years he was perceived partly as a failure till the country’s democracy grew. His successors sought advice from him till his death as he had set the precedence of how a more decentralized democratic state would be run. Politics had foiled his name but over the years, his decisions were reaffirmed to be necessary for the country. Following his death, and after the sale of Monticello, Jefferson legacy continued to take root in the American history especially in Virginia where he had set up the University of Virginia. He had immortalized his legacy and became a respectable figure in the historical context of the country.
How Jefferson became an important figure in the early twentieth century
The early 20th century in America was marred by international conflicts and growth in rights of the former slaves. These two issues took precedence in the political course and the presidents who served in this...