Thomas Jeffersons Government

Thomas Jefferson 's Government

Introduction

Thomas Jefferson , both in his own time and today , two centuries after this death , is considered one of America 's most beloved politicians and presidents . So much so that he is claimed as a pioneer and icon by both conservatives and liberals alike , attesting to both the versatility and longevity of his political ideals and the strength of his brand of government . In an effort to better understand Thomas Jefferson and his government , a pivotal work on his life and political career will be reviewed- American

Sphinx : The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis

Jefferson the Physical Man

As Ellis begins his book , the retells the tale of Jefferson arriving in Philadelphia for the series of meetings that would eventually give birth to the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution . At this point , the author provides vivid imagery of Jefferson arriving in a regal carriage and an entourage , much like a celebrity of the modern day would travel and make a grand entrance (Ellis , 1996 . While the author concedes that no one in fact knows exactly what Jefferson looked like because the only supposed paintings of him are not definitely established to be him , accounts are used from his contemporaries which state emphatically that Jefferson the physical man was someone who carried himself with a regal bearing , and his physical presence was an impressive one to say the least . This type of imagery made it possible for the reader to anxiously anticipate the...