Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signing occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notably, Thomas Jefferson, who was serving as the United States minister in France at the time, was not one of the signatories. Jefferson was, however, able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence with James Madison, and he played a significant role in shaping the nation's capital and defining the powers of the Constitution during his subsequent political career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson's presence at the signing of the Constitution | Absent |
| Thomas Jefferson's role in the development of the federal government | Influenced through correspondence |
| Thomas Jefferson's opinion on the binding nature of the Constitution | Believed constitutions expire after 19 years and must be renewed |
| Thomas Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank | Opposed |
| Thomas Jefferson's opinion on the powers of the Constitution | Limited powers |
| Thomas Jefferson's opinion on the inclusion of a bill of rights | Supported |
| Thomas Jefferson's death | July 4, 1826, 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Jefferson was not present for the signing of the Constitution
- Jefferson's views on slavery and miscegenation
- Jefferson's influence on the development of the federal government
- Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank
- Jefferson's views on the binding nature of the Constitution
Thomas Jefferson was not present for the signing of the Constitution
Thomas Jefferson was not present for the signing of the US Constitution. In fact, he was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787. Jefferson was, however, able to influence the development of the federal government through his correspondence. He also played a crucial role in shaping the powers of the Constitution and the nature of the emerging republic through his various public offices, including his roles as the first secretary of state, vice president, leader of the first political opposition party, and third president of the United States.
Jefferson's ideas and beliefs had a significant impact on the Constitution. He advocated for a federal government with limited powers and 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. Jefferson's correspondence with James Madison helped convince Madison to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress.
Additionally, Jefferson's draft resolutions, known as the Kentucky Resolutions, claimed that states had the right to nullify federal laws and acts that violated the Constitution. The role that Jefferson and Madison played in drafting these resolutions was kept secret throughout their years of public service. Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank is also notable, as he argued for a strict construction of the Federal Constitution with limited powers.
Despite not being present for the signing of the Constitution, Jefferson's contributions to the development of the American Constitution in the 1770s and 1780s are significant. He was one of the youngest members of the Continental Congress and had a reputation as a fine writer. Jefferson's philosophical ideas and political actions helped shape the emerging republic and the powers of the Constitution.
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Jefferson's views on slavery and miscegenation
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, owned over 600 slaves during his adult life. He publicly opposed slavery, deeming it a "moral depravity" and a "hideous blot" that went against the laws of nature and the principles of the American Revolution. He believed that slavery threatened the survival of the new American nation. Jefferson supported a gradual emancipation process, with slave owners compensated, and former slaves resettled outside the country, such as in Africa or the Caribbean. He also advocated for the prohibition of slavery in new territories and discouraged slave-dependent crops. However, he did not actively work towards ending slavery during his political career, and his views on race, as expressed in his writings, have been criticised as racist.
Jefferson did not sign the Constitution. In 1787, he was in Paris as the United States' envoy and missed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Jefferson's views on slavery were complex and seemingly contradictory. On the one hand, he publicly opposed slavery and advocated for its abolition. He proposed legislation to prohibit the importation of enslaved Africans and to ban slavery in the Northwest territories. He also included a passage blaming the slave trade and slavery on King George III in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was later deleted.
On the other hand, Jefferson's actions as a politician and leader fell short of his rhetoric. He did not take significant steps to end slavery during his terms as diplomat, secretary of state, vice president, or twice-elected president. He believed that emancipation should be a democratic process, with the consent of slave owners, rather than through federal government intervention. He also opposed a Missouri statehood amendment that banned domestic slave importation and freed slaves at 25, fearing it would lead to the breakup of the Union.
Jefferson's views on race have been criticised as racist. In his writings, such as "Notes on the State of Virginia", he expressed the belief that people of African descent were biologically inferior to whites in terms of intelligence, morality, and potential for citizenship. He also held that love bonds between blacks were weaker than those between whites. These views were typical of 19th-century America, but they contradict his professed support for equality and freedom.
Jefferson's relationship with slavery is a subject of ongoing debate and interpretation. Some argue that his ownership of slaves conflicted with his moral and political principles, while others highlight his genuine hatred of slavery and his efforts to curb and eliminate it. His views on miscegenation, or interracial relationships, were negative, as evidenced by his fear of civil unrest between whites and former slaves if they were to be emancipated and live alongside each other.
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Jefferson's influence on the development of the federal government
Thomas Jefferson was not one of the signatories of the US Constitution, as he was in France serving as the US minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787. However, he was able to influence the development of the federal government and the Constitution through his correspondence.
Jefferson's actions in various public offices, including his roles 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 nation's capital and defining the powers of the Constitution and the nature of the emerging republic. He sought to establish a federal government with limited powers.
In a letter to James Madison from Paris dated December 20, 1787, Jefferson objected 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 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.
Jefferson's draft resolutions, known as the Kentucky Resolutions, claimed that states had the right to nullify federal laws and acts that violated the Constitution. The role he played in drafting these resolutions with Madison was kept secret throughout their years of public service.
Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank, expressed on February 15, 1791, is also considered one of the stellar statements on the limited powers and strict construction of the Federal Constitution. He argued against Alexander Hamilton, who advocated for a broad interpretation of the Constitution based on implied powers.
Additionally, Jefferson articulated the idea that any constitution, including the American Constitution, has to lapse roughly every generation, or every 19 years based on his calculations. He questioned whether one generation could bind another to a constitution or set of laws they had not agreed to, suggesting that no society can create a perpetual constitution or law.
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Jefferson's opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank
Thomas 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. In his various public offices, Jefferson sought to establish a federal government with limited powers.
On February 15, 1791, Jefferson expressed his opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank. He believed that a national bank was unconstitutional and that states should charter their own banks. He argued that a national bank unfairly favoured wealthy businessmen in urban areas over farmers in the country.
Jefferson's opinion on the national bank was based on his interpretation of the Constitution. He believed that the Constitution reserved all powers not explicitly delegated to the United States for the states or the people. He argued that the incorporation of a bank and the powers assumed by the bill had not been delegated to the United States by the Constitution.
Jefferson's stance on the national bank was in contrast to that of Alexander Hamilton, who was a proponent of a broad interpretation of the Constitution based on implied powers. Hamilton wanted the government to establish a national bank, modelled after Great Britain's national bank, with branches in major cities, a uniform currency, and a place for the federal government to deposit and borrow money.
Jefferson's opposition to the national bank, along with that of James Madison, is considered to have marked the birth of the Republican party. Their interpretation of the Constitution and opposition to the bank charter became fundamental tenets of Republican ideology.
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Jefferson's views on the binding nature of the Constitution
Thomas 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. In his only book, "Notes on the State of Virginia", Jefferson spent a great deal of time pondering constitutional issues. He also corresponded with individuals who would eventually contribute to the formation of the Constitution, like Madison and John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers.
Jefferson's draft resolutions claimed that states had the right to nullify federal laws and acts that violated the Constitution. The Kentucky Resolutions were passed, and the role Jefferson played in drafting them was kept secret throughout his years of public service.
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 James Madison helped to convince Madison to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress.
In a letter written to James Madison from Paris just after the French Revolution had broken out, Thomas Jefferson argued that any Constitution expires after 19 years and must be renewed if it is not to become "an act of force and not of right". He questioned whether one generation of men has the right to bind another, suggesting that there is no municipal obligation between generations, but only the law of nature. He believed 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 opinion on the constitutionality of a national bank is considered one of the stellar statements on the limited powers and strict construction of the Federal Constitution. He sought to establish a federal government of limited powers through the various public offices he held, including his roles 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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Frequently asked questions
39 delegates signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
No, Thomas Jefferson was in France serving as the United States minister when the Federal Constitution was written in 1787.
Thomas Jefferson influenced the development of the federal government through his correspondence. He also helped convince James Madison to introduce a bill of rights into the First Congress.
Thomas Jefferson believed that the US Constitution should lapse roughly 19 years after it was first signed and ratified. He also believed that the federal government should have limited powers.
