美国第三任总统--托马斯·杰斐逊

Thomas Jefferson: The Nation's Third President 美国第三任总统--托马斯·杰斐逊

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy welcomed Nobel Prize winners to the White House. He said “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”  

Kennedy’s comment shows how vividly¹ Jefferson lives in the American imagination – even more than 100 years after his presidency² and death. In the United States, Jefferson’s name is often linked to the country’s history of self-government, slavery, separation of church and state, and public education.

Founding father

Jefferson was born in 1743 and raised in the hills and low mountains of Virginia. He was considered an aristocrat³: his family’s wealth permitted him an excellent education in classic languages, science, literature, philosophy and law. Jefferson also learned to ride horses, dance and explore the natural world.

In the 1770s Jefferson supported the coming American Revolution. He became a member of the Second Continental⁴ Congress and is famous for being the lead writer of the Declaration of Independence.

The document declared the American colonies’ separation from England. It also asserted “that all men are created equal” and have the rights “to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Jefferson went on to hold many positions in the country’s new state and national governments. He was a governor of Virginia, a minister to France, a secretary of state for President George Washington, and the vice⁵ president under President John Adams.

Virginia planter and slave owner

But Jefferson often wrote to his friends about how he most wanted to retire from public service and return to his home in Virginia. In the 1760s he designed a house on a hilltop he called Monticello – the word means “little mountain” in Italian.

Jefferson spent most of his life changing and improving the house. He hired dozens of workmen to build it. He also put some of his slaves to work on it.

During his life, Jefferson owned about 600 slaves. That meant about 130 lived on Monticello at any time. They worked in Jefferson’s house, tobacco and wheat farms, and on special projects such as making cabinets and nails. 

Jefferson expressed mixed feelings about slavery. He said he disliked the practice, and that he believed God would judge slave owners severely⁶. In 1782, he wrote, “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever …”

And of course, many people pointed⁷ out that Jefferson himself wrote in the Declaration of Independence “all men are created equal,” yet Jefferson did not use his power to end slavery. He expected future generations would permit slavery in the United States to end slowly.

Jefferson’s words and actions on slavery are contradictory⁸. The contradiction is especially significant because evidence suggests he had a long relationship with a young slave at Monticello. 

?Her name was Sally Hemings. Most historians now believe what the Hemings family has said all along: Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings’ six children of record.

Presidential candidate: Election of 1800

Thomas Jefferson left Monticello to become the country’s third president. The election of 1800 was important for several reasons.

First, it resulted in a strange situation: both Thomas Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, received the same number of electoral votes.

The Constitution at the time did not require electors to say whether they were voting for president or vice president. So when the two men tied, the House of Representatives had to decide which man would take the lead position. But their votes, too, could not determine a winner.

The election dragged on and on. Finally, one of Jefferson’s chief political enemies, Alexander Hamilton, decided⁹ that Jefferson was the lesser¹⁰ of two evils. In other words, he did not like either candidate but decided Jefferson was the better choice.

Hamilton persuaded some of his allies to support Jefferson over Burr. After six days and 36 votes, the House of Representatives gave the presidency to Jefferson.

The strange situation provoked a change to the Constitution. The Twelfth Amendment¹¹ clarifies how the president and vice president are chosen.

The election of 1800 was also important because it was a break from the earlier administrations. The first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, were Federalists. In other words, they supported a strong federal government.

Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, was a Republican — although the term meant something different in his time than it does for today’s Republicans. Jefferson wanted to limit federal government.

Historian Joseph Ellis explains that Jefferson supported the power of the states and the people themselves.

“So, in some sense, he’s going to the federal government as the head of it to say we’re not going to do anything. Our job is to get out of the way and to allow the citizens of the republic to pursue their happiness without the interference of any federal authority whatsoever¹².”

The Federalists disagreed with Jefferson’s point of view. However, they accepted the results of the election and permitted the government to transfer peacefully.

Third U.S. president

Some Federalists may have also been comforted by Jefferson’s inaugural¹³ address — the speech he gave when he officially became president. In it, Jefferson famously said, “We are all republicans — we are all federalists.”

Many listeners probably believed Jefferson was saying his administration would support ideas from both Republicans and Federalists.

But historian Joseph Ellis points out that Jefferson did not capitalize the names of the political groups in his speech. Instead, Ellis says, Jefferson was likely saying the American public supported a strong system of state governments united under a “federal bond.”

Indeed, Jefferson led his administration by his Republican beliefs — mostly. As president he greatly lessened¹⁴ the power of the federal government. He cut the national debt. He reduced the military. He disliked the power of the Supreme¹⁵ Court over the laws Congress made. And he rejected appearances that made the U.S. president look like a European king.

One of the lasting¹⁶ images of Jefferson in the American imagination is of him receiving guests in old clothes and slippers¹⁷. 

But as president, Jefferson also appeared strong and powerful when dealing¹⁸ with foreign nations. Jefferson increased American naval¹⁹ forces in the Mediterranean²⁰ to combat threats to U.S. ships. And he permitted American officials to buy a huge area of land from France, even though the Louisiana Purchase added to the national debt and exceeded the power the Constitution gave the president.

In general, historians consider Jefferson’s first term as president a success. Voters did, too, because he easily won a second term.

But those last four years were more difficult. Jefferson’s popularity suffered, especially when he stopped all U.S. trade with Europe. Jefferson aimed to limit American involvement in a war between Britain and France. Instead, he ruined the U.S. economy.

When Jefferson returned to Monticello in 1809, he was happy to leave the presidency behind. And some people were happy to see him go.

Criticisms and legacy²¹

Jefferson’s critics attacked both his political ideas and his personal qualities. Even friends such as John Adams and James Madison suggested in their letters that Jefferson was too idealistic. Federalists, including Washington and Hamilton, worried Jefferson’s Republican ideas would weaken the strong federal government and national economy they had worked hard to create.

Jefferson is also negatively linked to the history of Native Americans and slavery in the U.S. He tried to get Indian nations to enter into treaties that ultimately took away their land. He asked that they become more like European-Americans. And his policies made them depend on the U.S. government.

And Jefferson took no major action to end slavery, either in his personal life or as a public figure. In fact, historian Joseph Ellis points out that some of Jefferson’s actions increased the power of the slave-holding south and supported slavery in the western states.

“Jefferson doesn’t put his presidency or the Louisiana Purchase on his tombstone. He never claims any great credit for that. It’s interesting. Because what happens is this area becomes the source of controversy²² that leads to the Civil War.”

Jefferson instead wanted to be remembered for three things: writing the Declaration of Independence, supporting religious freedom, and creating the University of Virginia.

For the most part, he is.

Jefferson's political opponents accused him of not being a Christian²³, although he said he was. But many Americans supported Jefferson’s views on the separation of church and state. He wrote that government should worry only about acts that hurt other people; however, he said, it does not harm him if his neighbor says, “there are 20 gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

Jefferson also famously supported free public education, especially for those who could not pay for school. He established both the idea and the architecture for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The public university remains²⁴ one of the top colleges in the United States.

Jefferson himself wrote proudly of these accomplishments²⁵ at the end of his life. But his final years at Monticello had many sorrows. His wife, Martha, had died in 1782 after difficulty in childbirth. Five of the six children Martha had with Thomas Jefferson also died before him.

So while Jefferson often wrote about how much he enjoyed family life, he returned to Monticello with only one living daughter, among those he acknowledged, and a few grandchildren.

In addition, the cost of improving and maintaining the house, as well as the money he spent on fine wine and good food, had ruined him financially. Eventually, his daughter had to sell her father’s beloved Monticello and the slaves who lived there to pay his debts.

Jefferson died at Monticello at the age of 83. The last detail of his life – which Americans love to tell – is that he passed away on America’s birthday, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Words in This Story

vividly – adv. seeming like real life because it is very clear, bright, or detailed²⁶

aristocrat – n.  a member of the highest social class in some countries; a person who has more money and power than most people in society

assert – v. to state (something) in a strong and definite way

tremble – v. to shake slightly because you are afraid, nervous, excited, etc.

contradictory – adj. involving or having information that disagrees with other information

significant -– adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect

slippers – n. light, soft shoes easily put on and taken off and worn indoors

pick pocket – v. to steal

1 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 aristocrat   

n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物

参考例句：

• He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
• He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。

4 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 contradictory   

adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立

参考例句：

• The argument is internally contradictory.论据本身自相矛盾。
• What he said was self-contradictory.他讲话前后不符。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

11 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

12 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

13 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

14 lessened   

减少的，减弱的

参考例句：

• Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来，多少削弱了演讲的力量。
• The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行，住在城内的中产家庭减少了。

15 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

16 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

17 slippers   

n. 拖鞋

参考例句：

• a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
• He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。

18 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

19 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

20 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

21 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

22 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

23 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

24 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

25 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

26 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。