Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) – Author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, Jefferson articulated the ideals of liberty and self-government that define the American spirit. As a statesman, philosopher, and founder of the University of Virginia, he championed education, limited government, and religious freedom. His Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S., and his writings laid the intellectual foundation for generations of American patriots. Despite contradictions in his personal life, Jefferson’s vision of a free and informed citizenry continues to shape the nation.
At a private dinner in 1790, Jefferson brokered a deal between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison that would shape the young republic. In exchange for Madison dropping his opposition to Hamilton’s plan to assume state debts, Hamilton agreed to support moving the nation’s capital to the Potomac River—eventually becoming Washington, D.C. Jefferson later admitted he felt like he had been tricked into the agreement, saying, "It was the greatest mistake of my political life." Yet this quiet dinner solved a major constitutional crisis and solidified the foundations of America’s financial and geographic structure. The story reveals Jefferson's role as a behind-the-scenes negotiator, willing to compromise for unity—even when the outcome unsettled him.
At a private dinner in 1790, Jefferson brokered a deal between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison that would shape the young republic. In exchange for Madison dropping his opposition to Hamilton’s plan to assume state debts, Hamilton agreed to support moving the nation’s capital to the Potomac River—eventually becoming Washington, D.C. Jefferson later admitted he felt like he had been tricked into the agreement, saying, "It was the greatest mistake of my political life." Yet this quiet dinner solved a major constitutional crisis and solidified the foundations of America’s financial and geographic structure. The story reveals Jefferson's role as a behind-the-scenes negotiator, willing to compromise for unity—even when the outcome unsettled him.
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