LAD #9: Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

Summary of Jefferson's First Inaugural Address:

• Jefferson presents a modest acceptance of a great task, but he assures the people that he will find wisdom and zeal so that he could resolve the problems the new nation faced. These included the commercial, physical, and industrial expansion of the United States. Then, Jefferson continues by saying that the people must unite for the common good. He makes it known that since the country is a tolerant republic, people may have differing opinions, the people will generally have the same idealistic principles. Jefferson supports even the dissenters of Republicanism because of his belief in rights to freedom of opinions. The nation was left to develop its own views of Federalism and Republicanism, unhindered by Europe, now an ocean away. Separated from this destructive influence, America developed its own political religion, which included civic virtue, honesty, gratitude, temperance, and truth. Jefferson expresses his own political priorities, which included equality of all men regardless of their background or views. Also, he advocated support for States' rights for domestic policy and support for the Federal Government for foreign policy. He also believed in a maintenance of a well trained militia, superior agriculture, free speech, free press, trial by jury, and other things. Jefferson concludes his address by saying he will uphold these priorities to the best of his ability, so that he might uphold the happiness and liberty of the people.