As I ponder the works of America's third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, I discover a brilliantly liberated mind and a legacy of infamously notorious contradictions. Today's political divides and origins lie deep in our past. And yet, they are so clear to see.
It's easy to forget that not long ago America's original political party was the Democrat-Republican Party, aka Jeffersonian Republicans.
Thomas Jefferson is widely considered a Founding Fathers of the United States and a key figure in the country's early history. He served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809 and was instrumental in shaping the country's political landscape during this time.
The original Democrat-Republican Party, also known as the Jeffersonian Republicans, was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s.
Created in opposition to the Federalist Party.
Federalist Party was led by Alexander Hamilton.
Federalist Party favored a strong central government.
A national bank and tariffs to protect American industry.
The Democrat-Republicans led by Jefferson.
Believed in a weaker central government.
More power reserved for the states.
Focus on agriculture rather than industry.
Over time, the differences between the Federalist Party and the Democrat-Republican Party became more pronounced, and the two parties began to diverge on a number of issues.
The Federalists favored close ties with Britain and a strong central government, while the Democrat-Republicans supported France and a more decentralized government.
The split between the two parties came to a head in the 1820s, when President John Quincy Adams, a Federalist, faced off against Andrew Jackson, a Democrat-Republican, in the presidential election of 1828.
Jackson's victory marked the end of the Federalist Party and the beginning of the modern Democratic Party.
The Democrat-Republican Party eventually evolved into the modern Republican Party, which was founded in the 1850s.
However, despite his many accomplishments, Jefferson also had a number of faults that have had lasting impacts on American society.
One of the most significant contributions made by Jefferson was the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, which he wrote in 1776. This document, which outlined the colonies' grievances with Great Britain and declared their intention to break away from the British Empire, has had a lasting impact on American society and remains an important symbol of the country's commitment to liberty and democracy.
In addition to his work on the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson also played a key role in the development of the United States' system of government.
He was a strong advocate for a federal system, in which power is divided between the national government and the states.
This system has been a cornerstone of the American political system and has helped to keep the country united and stable.
He admitted that slavery was wrong but took no steps to end it in America.
However, despite his many contributions to the country, Jefferson also had a number of faults that have had lasting impacts on American society. One of the most significant of these was his ownership of slaves. Although he recognized that slavery was wrong and expressed a desire to end it, he never took any concrete steps to do so.
Instead, he continued to own slaves and even purchased more throughout his life.
This has had a lasting impact on American society, as the legacy of slavery continues to shape the country's race relations and social inequality.
Another error of his humanity was Thomas Jefferson's treatment of Native Americans.
As President, he pursued a policy of expansion and westward expansion, which often involved the forced removal of Native American tribes from their lands.
This has had a lasting impact on American society, as many Native American communities continue to struggle with poverty, lack of access to education, and other challenges as a result of these policies.
The life of Thomas Jefferson continues to facinate mankind - humanities bloody path towards life liberty and the purists of individual happiness. What does it suggest for today's political parties?
Parties change. Positions change. Breakups happen. Who's next?