Last Updated on June 24, 2022
As president, Thomas Jefferson expanded the nation’s bureaucracy and military. He also increased taxes on alcoholic beverages, land, and stamps. While increasing taxes is a good way to increase revenue, it also creates a huge debt. Jefferson also tried to reduce the national debt by cutting government spending. He also encouraged Congress to renew the Alien Act and Sedition Act. This is a great example of government spending, but it’s not the only reason to consider Jefferson’s policies.
Thomas Jefferson’s first two years in office
After the French Revolution, the United States was divided into two political parties. Jefferson’s Republican Party sided with the French Revolution and opposed strong centralized government. Jefferson favored state rights and was opposed to the idea of a national government that was too powerful. Jefferson’s first two years in office were not brainy, but he did achieve some notable accomplishments. Here’s a look at what made him so brilliant and why we should listen to his advice on public policy.
His relationship with John Adams
His relationship with John Adams when he took up office reflected the strained relationship between the president and his wife. They remained close, even though the former was absent from Braintree for a short time in 1777. However, his absence was compensated for by his appointment as a joint commissioner with Britain and France to negotiate the Peace of Paris. He also travelled to Europe on behalf of his nation, and the Adams family had to bear the hardships of separation.
After serving two terms as a vice president under George Washington, John Adams was elected as the country’s second president in 1796. He was elected under the Federalist Party banner and faced strong criticism from the Jeffersonian Republicans and his rival Alexander Hamilton. As president, Adams focused on France, although the ruling Directory had banned Americans from visiting the country, and had even suspended trade relations. Despite this, Adams’ efforts to resolve the problem were ultimately successful.
His friendship with Jefferson did not end after his unsuccessful reelection bid, and the two continued to correspond for the next fourteen years. His relationship with Jefferson also generated an Adams political family. His son John Quincy Adams served as the sixth president of the United States. The two were the only Presidents of the United States without slaves. His relationship with Jefferson’s wife led to the birth of the fifth and sixth Adams.
Despite their personal differences, John Adams and Jefferson shared the same values and vision for the country. While he was a passionate political leader, John Adams’s personal life was a difficult one. He had to live in two different worlds. A couple of his closest friends and colleagues were in the same place at the same time. Their friendship was not only beneficial for the nation, but for his personal life as well.
Abigail was her husband’s closest friend and adviser. John was preoccupied with his political and legal career while Abigail cared for the family. The two had regular correspondence by letter and the letters reveal an intimate picture of their time. Abigail was against slavery in 1774, and later urged the Founders to “Remember the Ladies.”
His influence on the federal government
The First Federal Congress met in Federal Hall in New York in 1789. Jefferson dealt with the Congress for less than a year. While in the office of secretary of state, Jefferson was responsible for planning the nation’s capital district. He envisioned a compact republican design. Though he had only been in office for a few years, he had a major impact on the development of the nation’s capital.
His policy dealing with the Bank of the United States
The president’s policy toward the Bank of the United States during the Jackson administration was controversial. Critics called Jackson “King Andrew the First” and blamed his bank policies for the panic. Biddle, however, took no responsibility for the financial crisis and was blaming Jackson. He even demanded that the governor of Pennsylvania make a speech in support of the bank’s policy. Ultimately, Biddle resigned as president of the Bank in 1813 because of Jackson’s policy.
The president was not a friend of the Bank and had a very unfavorable attitude towards it. Western states did not trust paper money and wanted to trade in gold. Jackson made frequent criticisms of the Bank in his yearly messages to Congress, but he stood his ground. The president did not recharter the Bank, and in 1836, the recharter became inevitable.
About The Author
Scarlett Aguilar is an infuriatingly humble troublemaker. She's always up for a good time, and loves nothing more than reading evil books and playing typical video games. Scarlett also writes for fun, and finds everything about outer space fascinating. She's proud of her work, but would never brag about it - that's just not her style.