Thomas Jefferson is regarded as the father of American constitution since he pioneered the drafting of the original declaration of independence. In agreement with other thirteen colonies of the Britain decided to push for their freedom and independence from British rule. The Britons had taken away the legislative rights of the colonies and subjected them to forced labor. The declaration upon which the constitution was drawn from clearly stated the guiding principles of life that the colonies saw fit for humanity. The fifty-six signatories were to represent the thousands of oppressed Americans. The declaration held that all men were created by God, and none is greater than the other. The statement in itself spoke against slaves and any form of ill treatment of a person hence an end to slavery. It continued to state that all men by God were given rights. These rights included the right to life, pursuit of happiness and liberty. The declaration says that for each to secure these rights a government that instituted by men that derives its just powers from the men who put it in place. The declaration is formed on a foundation that gave the American people the right to elect their leaders and gave them the power to remove bad leaders from their elective positions. It gave American protection from war against them and any internal injustices. On these principles, the American people were given the hope and assurance of a better life. The desire of the declaration was to make the American people sovereign and able to generate progress useful to them. Jefferson in his home at Monticello had slaves working for him even as he was president. Slavery did not come to a complete end as there were people still left as slaves. The foundations of the declaration need to be enforced more so as the American people are fully protected from external attacks as it was the desire of the declaration form. The current politic should focus more on improving the life’s of Americans rather than a political party. The thirteen initial states worked for the good of the millions they represent, so politics should be based on national justice and progress. The principles and the dreams held by the constitution and declaration of independence should be brought back to life so that Americans feel the effect of sovereignty brought by the declaration of independence. Joseph Ellis comes to know of Thomas Jefferson during the declaration of independence when he arrived in Philadelphia as Virginias delegate and drafter of the constitution. Ellis kept close to Jefferson throughout his career and even to his home in Monticello. Staying with Jefferson even after retirement from office, Ellis was compelled to write about the man’s life and character. Depicting him as the America sphinx, Ellis touched on all aspects of his life. Thomas Jefferson moved away from tradition and became a republican. At the age of twenty-six, he started building his Monticello home where he would stay all his life. At the tender age of thirty-three, he drafted the declaration of independence and later on in seventeen eighty-six he enacted the religious freedom act. In seventeen ninety-six, he became vice president missing three only votes to be president. When he became president Thomas shied away from the public giving only two public speeches during his presidency. Thomas found more comfort behind the desk writing as it is evident in the declaration. His feminine approach to politics made him even more popular and unique as no other president has ever adopted his way of governance. Avoiding confrontation Jefferson would invite his political challenges to dinner and dissolve controversies while planting the seeds of his progressive ideas in them. If the politic of today would borrow a leaf from Thomas Jefferson’s way of governance, there would be great milestones made toward achieving a greater good portion intended in the declaration.
Works cited
Ellis, Joseph J. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. Print.
