Eleanor Finch
Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787, but he was able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with James Madison, John Jay, and others. He was a mentor to Madison, a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and he remained well-informed about events in America. Jefferson wanted the new Constitution to be accompanied by a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom from standing armies. He also advocated for the federal government not to be given the power to veto laws passed by the states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Attendance at the Constitutional Convention | Thomas Jefferson was not present at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 as he was serving as an ambassador in France. |
| Influence on the Constitution | Thomas Jefferson influenced the development of the federal government through his correspondence with James Madison, John Jay, and others. |
| Views on the Constitution | Jefferson objected to key parts of the Constitution, including the absence of a bill of rights, and the failure to provide for rotation in office or term limits. He wanted the new Constitution to be accompanied by a written "bill of rights" to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus. |
| Actions Influenced by the Constitution | As president, Jefferson was willing to expand his narrow interpretation of the Constitution to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France. He also ended the importation of slaves and maintained his view of the separation of church and state. |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Jefferson was in France in 1787
Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States and a key figure in the American Revolutionary War. He was also the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. However, Jefferson was in France in 1787 when the Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia, and the Federal Constitution was written. He was serving as the United States minister or ambassador to France at the time.
Jefferson was unable to attend the Constitutional Convention, but he remained well-informed about the developments in America through his correspondence with his friends and political acquaintances, including James Madison and John Jay. He discussed his ideas about the Constitution with them and shared his concerns about the failures of the Articles of Confederation. Jefferson advocated for a stronger federal government with limited powers and the protection of individual rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
Despite being in France, Jefferson played a role in influencing the development of the Constitution. He wrote many letters to his friends and political connections in America during the writing and ratification process of the Constitution. In these letters, he expressed his thoughts and objections to certain parts of the Constitution. For example, he objected to the absence of a bill of rights and the lack of provisions for rotation in office or term limits.
Jefferson's correspondence with James Madison, a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention, was particularly significant. Madison kept Jefferson informed about the individuals attending the Convention and shared some ideas with him. However, Madison also expressed his anxiety about the secrecy of the ongoing debates. After the Constitutional Convention was over, Jefferson continued to correspond with Madison, expressing his objections to key parts of the new Federal Constitution in a letter dated December 20, 1787.
While Jefferson was not physically present at the Constitutional Convention, his ideas and influence were still felt through his correspondence with those who were involved. He contributed to the discussions and debates surrounding the formation of the Constitution and the nature of the federal government.
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He influenced the Constitution through his correspondence
Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was being drafted and signed in 1787. However, he was still able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence. He remained well-informed about events in America, largely due to his correspondence with his good friend James Madison.
Jefferson's correspondence with Madison helped to convince the latter to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress. After ratification by the requisite number of states, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect in 1791. Jefferson also corresponded with Madison about the failures of the Articles of Confederation and discussed the need for a more powerful central government.
In a letter to Madison on June 20, 1787, Jefferson explained why the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states. This federal power was not included in the final draft of the Constitution, despite Madison's support of the idea. On September 6, 1787, Madison wrote to Jefferson, detailing some key provisions that were to be included in the Constitution. He explained how state and federal governments were to be organized and noted that some of the provisions may “surprise” Jefferson.
On December 20, 1787, after the Constitutional Convention was over, Jefferson wrote a letter to Madison objecting to key parts of the new Federal Constitution. He noted the absence of a bill of rights and the failure to provide for rotation in office or term limits, particularly for the chief executive. Jefferson also corresponded with other individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, such as John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers.
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He advocated for a bill of rights
Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was being written in 1787. However, he was still able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with James Madison, a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention. In his letters, Jefferson expressed his desire for the new Constitution to be accompanied by a written "bill of rights" to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus.
Jefferson's advocacy for a bill of rights stemmed from his belief in protecting individual rights and freedoms. He understood that a stronger federal government would make the country more secure economically and militarily, but he also feared the potential overreach of a powerful central government. In his correspondence with Madison, Jefferson emphasised the importance of limiting the powers of the federal government, specifically arguing against the federal government's power to veto laws passed by the states.
One of Jefferson's most notable contributions to the advocacy for a bill of rights was his influence on Madison. Through their correspondence, Jefferson helped convince Madison to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress. After ratification by the requisite number of states, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect in 1791.
Jefferson's commitment to individual liberties and limited government power continued throughout his political career. During his two terms as president, he sought to stay true to these principles by cutting the federal budget and taxes while reducing the national debt. Additionally, he maintained his stance on the separation of church and state and played a pivotal role in ending the importation of slaves.
While Jefferson was not physically present at the Constitutional Convention, his influence on the inclusion of a bill of rights in the Constitution is significant. His correspondence with Madison and other founding fathers, as well as his own political principles, contributed to shaping the final document that established the framework for the United States government.
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He was a Founding Father
Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States. He was a principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and also wrote about and debated constitutional issues. He was a mentor to James Madison, a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787. However, he was able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with Madison and John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers. He corresponded with Madison about the failures of the Articles of Confederation and discussed the need for a more powerful central government. He also wrote to Madison explaining why the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states.
Jefferson wanted the new Constitution to be accompanied by a written "bill of rights" to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus. His correspondence with Madison helped convince the latter to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress. After ratification by the requisite number of states, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect in 1791.
Jefferson was serving as vice president when he lost the 1796 presidential election to Adams by three electoral votes. He became the third president of the United States in 1800. As president, Jefferson sought to establish a federal government of limited powers. He was willing to expand his narrow interpretation of the Constitution to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France. He also ended the importation of slaves and maintained his view of the separation of church and state.
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He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He was also a mentor to James Madison, a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was being drafted, but he remained well-informed about events in America through his correspondence with his good friend James Madison. He also corresponded with other individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, such as John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers.
Jefferson's letters to Madison reveal his thoughts on the Constitution and the kind of government he envisioned for the United States. For example, in a letter dated June 20, 1787, Jefferson explained why the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states. He also advocated for a written "bill of rights" to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus.
In his book, "Notes on the State of Virginia," published anonymously in Europe in 1785, Jefferson spent a great deal of time pondering constitutional issues. Before the Constitutional Convention, while serving as the United States ambassador to France, Jefferson closely followed developments in the United States and shared ideas with Madison and others. He recognised that a stronger federal government would make the country more secure economically and militarily, but he feared the concentration of power in a central government.
After the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson continued to influence the formation of the new governmental structure by writing letters to friends and political acquaintances in America. In a letter to Madison dated December 20, 1787, Jefferson objected to key parts of the new Federal Constitution, noting the absence of a bill of rights and the need for rotation in office and term limits.
Although Jefferson was not physically present at the Constitutional Convention, his ideas and correspondence with key individuals who shaped the Constitution, such as Madison and Jay, had a significant impact on the development of the federal government and the protection of individual liberties.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787.
Thomas Jefferson was serving as the ambassador to France. He remained well-informed about the events in America through his correspondence with his friends.
Yes, Thomas Jefferson influenced the development of the federal government through his correspondence. He also wrote many letters to his friends and political acquaintances in America, expressing his thoughts on the Constitution.
No, Thomas Jefferson did not write the US Constitution. He was, however, a mentor to James Madison, who was a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
Yes, Thomas Jefferson served as the first secretary of state, vice president, leader of the first political opposition party, and third president of the United States.
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