Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third President of the US is particularly known for his political philosophies which favored the enlightenment vision for the future of the nation. Jefferson’s political vision for the future of the United States included his belief that the strength of the nation depended on its agriculture and yeoman farmers and he conceived that the yeoman farmers who are independent could serve the paradigm for the success of the state and the virtues of the republic.
Jefferson’s vision for the future of the United States can best be comprehended in the background of the Louisiana Purchase, by which the United States, in 1803, acquired 828,000 square miles of the French territory of Louisiana. National expansion became one of the essential questions to be faced by the republic at the attainment of independence and the nation’s development greatly depended on the political expansion of the republic.
In this background, one may comprehend Jefferson’s vision of an expansion empire of liberty. Jefferson’s pragmatism often undercut his principles and according to him two conditions justified the Jefferson’s decision to purchase Louisiana. “First…it was essential for the nation’s long-term economic, political, and moral health that it expands westward so that a majority of its populace could continue, long into the future, as farmers. Second, the presence of the Spanish to the South and the British to the North endangered the nation’s control of its present western borders…” (Historical topic). Realizing these factors, Jefferson was able to implement his vision for the future of the US through the Louisiana Purchase.
Essay 2
What kinds of actions did they take the preserve their African roots?
The Blacks in the Revolutionary America were people who were born on the land itself knew how to operate within the society. In the same way, they had specific interests to preserve their African roots. For the attainment of this objective, they had their specific ways. Thus, as the video clipping suggests, they maintained the importance of their African religion, values, beliefs and cultural heritage in their life in the American plantations. As remarked by Clark, some of the Africans would make the most of their situation and develop their own culture which no one could take away, not even their masters. Music was a key component to developing this ‘separate culture.’ This way they preserved their African roots.
How did blacks combine these roots with the reality that they were born in America, not Africa?
It was essential for the new Africans in the American plantations to combine their roots with the reality that they were born not in Africa, but in America. Thus, the new generation of black people began to mix with the American born blacks. Regarding this strategy of the new African arrivals Clark remarks, “As a new generation of blacks grew on this new side of the Atlantic, they combined their homeland instruments with the white-man’s which included the violin. For instance, the video excerpt stated Junipers family produced banjos. As a result the banjo and violin combined orchestrated a new sound and culture.” This has been found essential way to keep their roots combined with reality regarding their reality that they were born in America, not Africa.
What actions did they take to protest or resist slavery?
It is remarkable that not all the African slaves were fond of slavery and they resisted it with tooth and nail. Their protest had specific nature and they would rebel their masters in their own ways. Clark’s comment about this nature of their resistance is proven right. “Not all blacks endured their enslavement. Some would rebel by running away, take part in arson, poison and even suicide.” Thus, they attempted various ways to resist slavery.
Works Cited
Historical topic: Jeffersonian Visions. TAH PDX: The Teaching American History Project. 2005-2008. Web.