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Can anyone of you suggest me any topics for a Thomas Jefferson historical investigation? I am doing a historical investigation on any certain topic about Thomas Jefferson during his presidency. It is important that I say much about that topic (good and bad stuff). Any suggestions? Something like foreign policy, his views about slavery, written documents and impact, etc... But just one topic that is very extense, rich and interesting to write about. Maybe even one of those I mentioned above. Thanks. History - 5 Answers - 2009-08-11 08:15:26 Best Answer Was Jefferson a hypocrite? Compare his statements and writings about slavery and the natural rights of man with his actions as a slaveholder. All Answers Answer 1 A good topic to write about would be the First Barbary War. The First Barbary War occurred when Jefferson was president and the US went to war with the Barbary States for their support of piracy. "The Barbary Pirates were from the northern part of Africa in the Mediterranean. For centuries, they had controlled the shipping trade in the Mediterranean. Their interest was not as much in the cargo of the ships as it was in the crews that manned the ships. The pirates would capture and then enslave the crews of the vessels that sailed in the Mediterranean, forcing the men to labor in workhouses as well as subject them to starvation. The only way to escape this fate was for a country to pay tribute to each of the Barbary states, and this was not always a guarantee. Paying tribute, however, was a common practice for all the European nations. In fact, when the United States were still colonies, the English had paid dues to protect their ships, as well as those of the American colonies. Now that the colonies had won their independence, England and the other powers of Europe had no interest in protecting the trade of the new nation. The attitude of Europe was that as long as the pirates had the smaller countries of the world to raid, there was no need for the pirates to impede the travels and trade of the larger countries in Europe. This, however, did not save them from paying tribute, which they continued to pay year after year. It did, however, reduce the inconvenience of further attacks. In fact, some countries paid tributes in the millions every year. Long before Jefferson had ever been elected President, he abhorred the idea of paying homage to the Barbary states. On many occasions he had petitioned Congress and President Adams to take military action against the Barbary powers, each time to no avail. Eventually, as an envoy to France Jefferson abdicated his position on the Barbary Pirates and gave in to the pressure of Congress. In 1786 Jefferson sent Thomas Barclay, the Consul General, to purchase peace with Morocco. Barclay was success successful in negotiating a treaty that gave the United States protection and most favored nation status. This was at a price of $30,000 a year, as well as some gold and jeweled trinkets. Jefferson, of course, was not happy with the treaty because he felt that it still did not offer any guarantees that American shipping would be spared capture and slavery. He believed, basing his opinion on the successful strike by France against Algiers, that war was the only way to guarantee freedom of trade in the Mediterranean. He also relayed to President Adams as well as Congress that he felt going to war would only guarantee peace, but would also offer an excellent opportunity to train the nation's naval forces. Adams and Congress disagreed, and the debate continued until Jefferson became President. After Jefferson became President, he felt he finally had an opportunity to deal with the problem of piracy in the Mediterranean. The United States had just completed a peace with Algiers, and was in the process of completing an arrangement with the Bey of Tripoli. The deliberations were proceeding unfavorably as the Bey of Tripoli believed that Algiers had received a far better deal an he. Tensions were strong in the Mediterranean, and Jefferson felt sure that war would ensue. Congress and President Adams had failed to act judiciously to solve the problem of the pirates. Adams had succeeded in keeping the United States out of an anti-piracy confederacy with other American countries. Congress had also been slow to offer acceptable amounts of money for tributes to the Barbary states. In fact, Congress had authorized a mere $80,000 for the appeasement of the Barbary powers. This was only a fraction of what it would have cost the United States to secure peace in the region. All of these previous efforts had failed, and their failures were threatening a rather large part of the United States' international trade: one sixth of American exports of wheat and flour went through the Mediterranean, as well as one-fourth of all pickled and dried fish. This was a considerable amount of trade for a developing country. Jefferson wanted what he always had, war. It appears that Jefferson, in dealing with the Barbary pirates had decided that it would be cheaper and more beneficial to fight a war than continually to pay homage. President Jefferson had made his entire presidency one that stressed reduced budgets and spending, and the discharge of the public debt. Continuing to pay large ransoms and other gratuities would not achieve this goal; fighting a short decisive war might. Jefferson saw this as an opportunity to advance the goals of his administration, and decided, therefore, to deploy the navy." 2009-08-11 08:30:38 Answer 2 How about the affair and children he had with his slave, Sally Hemmings? 2009-08-11 08:46:25 Answer 3 Thomas Jefferson was very interested in architecture and design. The Monticello was his design as was the University of Virginia. You can do an awful lot that alone. Another aspect would be foreign policy. Jefferson secured the Louisiana Purchase and set the path for western expansion. You could do something on the importance of the Lewis and Clark expedition. 2009-08-11 08:59:51 Answer 4 Was Jefferson a hypocrite? Compare his statements and writings about slavery and the natural rights of man with his actions as a slaveholder. 2009-08-11 11:26:08 Answer 5 Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question. Thomas Jefferson Let history answer this question? 2009-08-11 13:55:11 |