The Quintessential Conflicted American - Essay Example

In my opinion, this criticism might be valid, but it is not fully. Indeed, Jefferson owned slaves, but he sympathized with them. In the letter to Edward Coles, he blamed the British who brought the practice of slavery in the colonies. It can be inferred from the letter that he treated slaves with dignity. (Jefferson, 1894)The criticism is valid up to a certain extent hinges on the assumption that Jefferson should have not owned slaves in the first place. But this is just a matter of opinion.

Circumstances during that period, where slavery is not illegal, gave Jefferson no obligation to set his slaves free. Nevertheless, his Liberty of owning slaves should be respected as this did not conflict with his conscience, which sought better conditions for slaves. The Purchase of Louisiana during the early 1800s, Spain decided to cede the Louisiana Territory to France. When Jefferson learned of this incident, he instructed his cabinet for the negotiation to purchase this deal from France.

The Constitution is silent about any purchase of territory by the government, but Jefferson insisted on the purchase. ("Foreign Affairs," nd) Jefferson's strict constitutionalism precludes him from making this transaction. This is another major point of criticism against him. But this should not be the case. Wilson (2003) quoted Jefferson as follows: "This little event, of France's possessing herself of Louisiana. is the embryo of a tornado which will burst on the countries on both sides of the Atlantic and involve in it's [sic] effects their highest destinies.

" As any student of history will attest, this purchase was done during the period when Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France. After France received from the United States, it waged war against Britain. Essentially, France was hungry for territorial expansion. Apparently, it could have taken the other way. France might have decided to invade the United States instead. The Jefferson quote above reflects his foresight. Therefore, the threat of the French invasion was minimized. In other words, Jefferson's move is consistent with one of the goals of the Constitution, namely "to secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

"Conclusion Acts and decisions committed by Jefferson, which appear to contradict the values and principles he espoused, should not be criticized and judged at their face value. A sensible person should look at the context and the circumstances which shaped those decisions. This way, the logic and the rationale of Jefferson's decisions could be viewed in a more favorable light.