Jefferson's Absence During Constitution Drafting

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third US president, was in France serving as the US minister when the US Constitution was written in 1787. Despite being three thousand miles away, Jefferson was able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with James Madison, a driving force behind the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Jefferson's letters to Madison reveal his desire for a federal government of limited powers, his opposition to giving the federal government the power to veto state laws, and his call for a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties.

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Thomas Jefferson was in France when the US Constitution was written

Thomas Jefferson is well known for his involvement in the creation of the US Declaration of Independence, but he was not directly involved in composing the US Constitution. In fact, Jefferson was in France when the US Constitution was written in 1787.

Jefferson was serving as the United States minister to France at the time, and he remained well-informed about events in America through his correspondence with his friends and political acquaintances, including James Madison and John Jay. He had previously called for a state constitutional convention in 1783, and he had written his own draft constitution for Virginia, which was never debated.

While in France, Jefferson expressed his thoughts and ideas on the Constitution through letters. For example, he wrote to Madison about the federal government's power to veto laws passed by the states, and he objected to key parts of the Constitution after the Constitutional Convention was over. 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, and freedom from standing armies.

Despite not being physically present at the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson's influence and ideas were still considered and debated. His correspondence with Madison helped to 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, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect in 1791.

Jefferson's influence on the Constitution

Thomas Jefferson was in Paris, France, in 1787 when the US Constitution was being drafted and debated. However, he was not completely uninvolved in the process. Jefferson's influence on the Constitution was through his correspondence with James Madison, who was present at the Constitutional Convention. In his letters, Jefferson shared his ideas and objections to certain parts of the Constitution.

Jefferson was a strong advocate for a bill of rights to accompany the Constitution, guaranteeing personal liberties such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, 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.

In his letters to Madison, Jefferson also discussed the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a more powerful central government. He believed that the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states. Additionally, he wrote about his desire to control the natural growth of the government and limit its powers.

Furthermore, Jefferson's actions in his various public offices, including serving as the first secretary of state, vice president, leader of the first political opposition party, and third president of the United States, were crucial in shaping the powers of the Constitution and defining the nature of the emerging republic. He sought to establish a federal government of limited powers and stayed true to his principles by cutting the federal budget and taxes while reducing the national debt.

Jefferson's correspondence with James Madison

Thomas Jefferson was in Paris, France, in 1787 when the Constitution was being drafted. He was serving as ambassador to France and remained well-informed about the events in America, largely due to his correspondence with his good friend and mentee, James Madison.

Jefferson and Madison maintained an extensive correspondence, discussing various aspects of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Here is a detailed overview of their exchange:

1783:

In the spring of 1783, Jefferson wrote to Madison, expressing his thoughts on potential amendments to the Constitution. He wrote:

> "A Convention for the Amendment of our Constitution having been much the subject of conversation for some time, I have turned my thoughts to the amendments necessary. The result I enclose you."

However, nothing came of this particular letter, and Jefferson later made his reservations about the Constitution public in his "Notes on the State of Virginia."

1787:

On June 6, 1787, during the Constitutional Convention, Madison wrote to Jefferson, providing a list of individuals attending the Convention. He couldn't disclose more due to the secrecy of the proceedings. Jefferson expressed frustration with the secrecy but shared some ideas with Madison.

After the Convention ended, on October 24, 1787, Madison informed Jefferson that George Mason, a Virginia colleague, had left Philadelphia in opposition to the Constitution, citing the absence of a Bill of Rights as a "fatal objection."

Two months later, on December 20, 1787, Jefferson wrote back to Madison, objecting to key parts of the Constitution. He also expressed his support for a Bill of Rights, stating:

> "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, & what no just government should refuse or rest on inference."

1789:

On September 6, 1789, Jefferson wrote a letter to Madison, addressing the interest of the national debt of France and the need for a declaration in the constitution regarding future debts. He argued that neither the legislature nor the nation itself should be able to contract more debt than could be paid within 19 years.

1790:

Due to Jefferson delaying sending the previous letter, Madison did not reply until February 4, 1790.

1791:

Jefferson's correspondence with Madison played a crucial role in convincing 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, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect in 1791.

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Jefferson's views on the Articles of Confederation

Thomas Jefferson was in Paris, France, serving as an ambassador when the US Constitution was written in 1787. He was not present for the drafting of the Constitution, but he was in close correspondence with those who were, such as James Madison and John Jay.

Thomas Jefferson supported Benjamin Franklin's proposal for the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union". He believed that a stronger federal government would make the country more secure economically and militarily. He also thought that the Articles of Confederation had failed and that a more powerful central government was needed. In his book, "Notes on the State of Virginia", Jefferson wrote about his reservations with the Articles of Confederation, calling them a "very capital defect". He felt that the Articles were a flawed compromise and that the federal government should not have the power to veto laws passed by the states.

Jefferson also believed that the Constitution should 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. He corresponded with James Madison, who introduced a bill of rights into the First Congress, which became the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, in 1791.

Jefferson's draft constitution for Virginia

Thomas Jefferson was in Paris, France, in 1787 when the US Constitution was being drafted and debated. He was, therefore, unable to participate directly in the drafting of the Constitution. However, Jefferson did play a role in shaping the Constitution through his correspondence with individuals like James Madison and John Jay, who contributed to its formation.

Now, moving on to the main focus of your query, here is some detailed information about Jefferson's draft constitution for Virginia:

Jefferson's draft sought to address what he perceived as grave defects in the Virginia Constitution of 1776. He believed that the 1776 constitution had issues such as a concentration of powers in the House of Delegates, unequal representation, and a lack of provision for amendments. In his draft, Jefferson proposed a separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches, barring delegates from serving consecutive terms, and prohibiting land appropriation until purchased from Native Americans.

The Influence of Jefferson's Ideas:

Jefferson's ideas and correspondence with key figures like Madison influenced the formation of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He advocated for a stronger federal government and the protection of personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury. His mentor-mentee relationship with Madison, a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention, further underscores his indirect influence on the final document.

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