Thomas Jefferson's Constitution Conundrum: A Historical Perspective

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third US president, was an influential figure in the creation of the US Constitution. Jefferson, who was in Paris during the Constitutional Convention, corresponded with key figures such as Madison and John Jay, discussing constitutional issues and the need for a stronger central government. Despite his absence, Jefferson shared ideas and influenced the drafting process. Notably, Jefferson disagreed with the secrecy of the Convention and advocated for a dynamic constitution, believing it should be revised periodically to keep pace with societal progress. He also promoted certain liberties, such as freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and argued for a Bill of Rights to safeguard these freedoms. Jefferson's impact extended beyond the Constitution's creation, as he later questioned its permanence and suggested it should lapse every 19 years to empower each generation to shape their laws.

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Thomas Jefferson was in Paris in 1787, not Philadelphia, so he couldn't have directly influenced the drafting of the Constitution

In the years leading up to the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson was actively involved in American politics and government. He had previously served in the Continental Congress and as Governor of Virginia. He also drafted the Declaration of Independence and was a member of the Congress that prepared the first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. Jefferson's only book, "Notes on the State of Virginia," published anonymously in Europe in 1785, discussed constitutional issues and was influential in shaping the political landscape of the time.

While in Paris, Jefferson closely followed developments in the United States and corresponded with individuals who would contribute to the formation of the Constitution. He was aware of the plans for the Constitutional Convention and shared his thoughts and concerns with Madison, who kept him informed of the proceedings. Jefferson's ideas and influence extended beyond the drafting of the Constitution, as he also played a significant role in shaping the Bill of Rights. He advocated for a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.

Although Jefferson was not physically present in Philadelphia during the drafting of the Constitution, his ideas and influence were still felt through his correspondence and relationships with key individuals involved in the process. His experience and insights contributed to the formation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, even if indirectly. Jefferson's impact on the Constitution and American political thought is undeniable, and he remains a pivotal figure in the nation's history.

Jefferson believed the Constitution should be accompanied by a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third US president, promoted ideals of freedom of speech, press, and conscience. He strongly believed that every American should have the right to prevent the government from infringing on the liberties of its citizens.

Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be accompanied by a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties. He wanted to ensure that certain liberties, including those of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, were sacred to everyone. In his correspondence with James Madison, Jefferson helped convince Madison to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress.

While in Paris before the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson closely followed developments in the United States and corresponded with individuals who would contribute to the formation of the Constitution, such as Madison and John Jay. He discussed the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a more powerful central government. During the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson shared some ideas with Madison, including his belief that the federal government should not have the power to veto laws passed by the states.

Jefferson's impact on constitutional issues was significant, both as a political party leader and as a President for eight years. His correspondence with Madison helped shape Madison's thinking on the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, which Madison advocated for by arguing that a list of rights would empower the judiciary to ensure that other branches of the government respected citizens' civil liberties.

Jefferson's views on the Constitution extended beyond his time as well. He believed that constitutions should not be regarded as sacred and unchangeable. In a letter written to James Madison from Paris in 1789, Jefferson argued that any Constitution expires after 19 years and must be renewed to avoid becoming "an act of force and not of right." He questioned whether one generation has the right to bind another, either financially or politically, to a constitution they did not create. Jefferson's belief in the principle that "the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead" led him to conclude that previous generations could not require the current generation to accept their laws and constitution.

Jefferson expressed frustration with the secrecy of the Constitutional Convention

Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, was in Paris serving as the US minister to France when the Federal Constitution was being drafted in 1787. He was unable to attend the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia.

Despite his absence, Jefferson closely followed the developments in the United States and corresponded with individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, such as James Madison and John Jay. He shared his ideas and concerns about the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a more powerful central government.

However, Jefferson expressed frustration with the secrecy of the Constitutional Convention. He believed that the secrecy rule demonstrated "an ignorance of the value of public discussions." Despite this, he was kept informed by Madison, who shared the general flow of the debates, and Jefferson, in turn, exchanged ideas with him. In a letter to John Adams, Jefferson referred to the delegates as "an assembly of demigods" but criticised their decision to adopt a rule of secrecy.

Jefferson's influence on the Constitution is evident in his correspondence with Madison, where he discussed specific provisions. For example, Jefferson wrote to Madison on June 20, explaining why the federal government should not have the power to veto laws passed by the states. He also advocated for a 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.

After the Constitutional Convention concluded, Jefferson continued to express his objections to key parts of the Constitution. In a letter to Madison dated December 20, 1787, he noted the absence of a bill of rights and the lack of term limits for federal officials. Jefferson's ideas and correspondence with Madison and others contributed to shaping the final form of the Constitution and the nature of the emerging republic.

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Jefferson believed that constitutions should be periodically revised to keep up with the progress of the human mind

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, played a significant role in shaping the country's constitutional legacy. While he was in Paris before the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson actively corresponded with individuals like Madison and John Jay, who would go on to contribute to the formation of the Constitution. In his letters, Jefferson discussed the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and emphasised the need for a stronger central government.

Jefferson's views on the Constitution were shaped by his belief that it should be a living document that could adapt to the progress of society. He argued that constitutions should not be regarded as sacred and unchangeable but instead be periodically revised to keep up with the advancements of the human mind. In a letter to Samuel Kercheval on July 12, 1816, Jefferson wrote:

> "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Jefferson's belief in the need for periodic constitutional revision was also reflected in his correspondence with James Madison. In a letter written in 1789, Jefferson questioned whether one generation had the right to bind another to a set of laws and argued that constitutions naturally expire after 19 years and must be renewed to remain valid. He wrote, "The earth belongs always to the living generation."

Jefferson's influence on constitutional issues extended beyond his writings. As a political party leader and president, he advocated for certain principles to be included in the Constitution. For example, he strongly believed in the importance of a bill of rights to safeguard personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom from standing armies. Jefferson's collaboration with Madison helped convince the latter to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress.

Jefferson thought the Constitution should lapse and become null and void every 19 years

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third US president, promoted ideals of freedom of speech, press, and conscience. He also 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.

While in Paris before the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson closely followed developments in the United States and corresponded with individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, like Madison and John Jay. Jefferson corresponded regarding the failures of the Articles of Confederation and discussed the need for a more powerful central government.

In a letter to James Madison, Jefferson questioned whether "one generation of men has a right to bind another," either financially or politically. He concluded that any constitution should lapse and become null and void approximately every generation (based on his calculations, every 19 years) since it was first signed and ratified. He believed in the principle that "the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead," meaning that previous generations could not bind the current generation to their debts or laws.

Jefferson's views on the Constitution and governance were also reflected in his correspondence with Samuel Kercheval. He stated that while he did not advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, they must evolve alongside societal progress and enlightenment. He argued that each new generation has the right to choose its form of government and that constitutions should be periodically handed off to the next generation to amend and repair.

In summary, Thomas Jefferson's thoughts on the Constitution were shaped by his belief in individual liberties and limited government. He advocated for a bill of rights to protect these liberties and questioned the permanence of constitutional laws, suggesting that they should lapse every 19 years to empower each new generation to shape their own governance.

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