America's third president was a follower of the European philosophy of enlightenment, and a staunch believer in states rights.

Thomas Jefferson was certainly not elected in a landslide in 1800. In fact, when the smoke cleared on election day, Jefferson had indeed resoundingly beaten the incumbent President John Adams, but had ended up in an electoral tie with fellow Democratic-Republican Aaron Burr (for more information on this remarkable election season, see the Suite101 article, "The U.S. election of 1800."

After all was said and done with, however, Jefferson won and Burr became Vice President (a law which would be changed as a result of the confusion of this election.

So what kind of President was he?

Jefferson's Enlightenment

Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the most "enlightened" of the early Presidents. As somewhat of a polymath (a person who shows genius in several different areas), Jefferson found himself drawn to the philosophy of the enlightenment - then perhaps best exemplified by the movement known as the French Revolution.

Jefferson had indeed been a proponent of the French Revolution prior to his time as President, like many others at that time comparing the French desire to throw off Aristocratic rule to America's own fight for Independence two decades earlier. What didn't become clear in America until well after the fact, however, was just how violent and awful the French scene had turned out.

When the realities of the French Revolution finally made their ways to the American shores, support sharply decreased for the cause. Nevertheless, Jefferson and those who followed him in his political ideologies (known as "Jeffersonian Republicans," or, more accurately Democratic-Republicans) continued to favor the French, who were in almost continual war with the British.

Taking this side put the Jeffersonians firmly at odds with the other party - the Federalists, as led by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and, to a lesser extent, John Adams - who were much more inclined to side with the British, as exemplified by the Jay Treaty during the Presidency of John Adams.

Prior to achieving the Presidency, Jefferson had been a colonial legislator, a representative to the Second Continental Congress (where he famously penned the Declaration of Independence), a Virginia state legislator, Governor of Virginia, American Minister to France, Secretary of State and Vice President. A very impressive resume, to say the least.

The Presidency

After having finally won the election and been inaugurated as President, Thomas Jefferson showed the complexity of his political beliefs:

· He supported American agriculture above all else, placing yoemen farmers over business and commerce (the opposite of the views of the Federalists).

· He supported the rights of states above the federal government, wanting in every possible way to limit federal powers.

· He rejected the idea of Hamilton's National Bank, declaring that a national bank is even more dangerous than a standing army, though he did nothing to encourage an early expiration of its 20-year charter.

· He signed off on the Louisiana purchase, even though his own Democratic beliefs may not have allowed it, as the Constitution gives no explicit right for a President to extend the union.

· He did not immediately repeal the unpopular Sedition Act (which had been a major part of John Adams not winning reelection), but allowed it to expire on schedule in 1801.

· He supported the Embargo Act of 1807, which was an attempt to punish Great Britain for attacking American's during their war with France, though it was repealed in 1808 after it had been shown that its negative effects (mostly to American farmers) far outweighed its limited successses.

· He strongly supported an interpretation of the Constitution which led to a very strict separation of Church and State - more so than many of his contemporaries. In this area he is rather infamous for the creation of the "Jefferson Bible" after leaving office; a retelling of the New Testament Gospels with all miracles removed.

Post-Presidency

After his two successful terms in office, Thomas Jefferson retired to his grand Virginia home, Monticello. There, he undertook several other projects to fill his time, such as the establishment of the University of Virginia, which was to be one of the only truly secular universities.

An important aspect of Jefferson's last years was the reestablishment of his friendship with his former friend-turned-political-enemy, John Adams. The two exchanged countless letters over these years, discussing every topic under the sun and providing countless important insights for philosophers and political scientists for years to come.

Jefferson and Adams died on the very same day, July 4th, 1826.

References:

“Biography of Thomas Jefferson.” The White House.

Simon, James F. “What Kind of Nation: Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States.” Simon and Schuster, 2002.