Don't you think Thomas Jefferson is Overrated?

Question

He is credited with writing the Declaration of independace, but he was not the sole writer and stole most of the ideas from elsewhere.

Ok I must clear a few things up
first i am not saying i have done anything better, but I am not credited with doing anything.
Secondly, Wolverine is absolutly right that is the point I was trying to make, i do prefer Adams and think if we honor Jefferson we should honor Adams.

I am also aware he did more that write the Declaration, but he was a womanizing slave raping, coward who always tried to outdue Adams even until death, which in the end Adams won so to speak.

Ok maybe he didn't really steal, just used, but then changed it instead of life liberty, prperty he made it life liberty, and the persuite of happyness. Maybe I have been unfair to him, maybe I should have said that John Adams and such are underrated.

Answer 1

Yep, he was a hypocrite slave owner who started one of the first political smear campaigns in order to get elected by discrediting and spreading lies about John Adams.

He was John Adam's vice president and yet he worked with and paid other people to spread lies about him to discredit him.

Jefferson was a vain, self-serving politician who though he knew better than everyone else. He obviously was invovled in some important moments in oru nation's history, but I wouldn't trust him not to stab me in the back if he could gain from it.

Answer 2

The ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence came from a variety of places -- philosophy, political belief, English common law, among other sources -- but what was new was putting them all together into the framework for forming a new nation. This was something that had never been done before.

Thomas Jefferson wasn't the sole author of this profound and history-making document, but it was his genius and enlightened thinking that was the driving force, and, in the end, it was the eloquence of his words that allow the Declaration to state such a broad base of reasons in such a short piece of writing.

While it was truly the Constitution that formed the United States as a nation, the Declaration of Independence started us on the path to becoming "Americans," instead of "Virginians," "New Yorkers," etc.

But Jefferson's genius was hardly limited to the writing of our nation's birth announcment. He was also a brilliant diplomat, inventor and architect, among many other talents. His far-sighted thinking -- remember, he's the person responsible for the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of our country and opened the door for expansion to the Pacific -- rank him as one of the most influential people in the history of the United States.

An argument could be made that America's early history was shaped by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, then a host of far lesser contributors.

Answer 3

Jefferson is a fascinating historical figure, not an inerrant political philosopher or human being. He was a great writer and synthesized many ideas from the Enlightenment philosophers. Sometimes ideas float around for a while before it's time for them to become reality. So what if they weren't all original?

Jefferson understood the essential issues: that the colonists needed to sever their ties with England, and that at least on some level, every person had rights. Declaring that people had the right to overthrow their government and that all men are created equal makes him one of the most important of the founding fathers.

Answer 4

Do you really know who Thomas Jefferson is and what he did? Do you truly understand him? Or are YOU just stealing your idea from elsewhere?

Jefferson did not only write the Declaration of Independence -- but even if that were his sole accomplishment, it would be enough to immortalize his memory. You may not know this, but he was also the third President of the same country for which he wrote that Declaration of Independence. He had a very deep understanding of humand behavior and how we do or do not follow justice, and he understood the consequences of each. He was far better educated than most people I can think of today (regardless of our supposedly higher standards of education, which in reality do nothing but attempt to force students to a norm to which they won't adhere anyway), and knew how to think.

Before you go posting questions like this, which are obviously meant for no other purpose than to stir up chaos, look at the facts and understand what you're talking about. It makes things a lot clearer.

Answer 5

No -- he did lots of other things besides writing the Declaration including being President for eight years and helping to ensure that the Bill of Rights was included in the Constitution.

PS Adams and the Federalists were responsible for the Alien and Sedition Acts one of the worst anti free speech laws ever passed that was used to persecute people who disagreed with the party in power.

Answer 6

stole?people read.and use there knowledge.you create things from whats around you.and whats in your mind,
you sound like a women who likes to turn things around on there perfectly Noble husband
of course he didn't write the whole document. he didnt say he did,.you seem like a small child, he simply was a great and intelligent man.we would not have such a fine country without him.he added so much.i bet you haven't done one great thing in your life .he did many great things. i take offense with you putting down one of the greatest men that ever lived.

Answer 7

He was a man of great character in his time.

Now there are facts of his life that have diminished his reputation.

He was human like the rest of us.

Answer 8

I don't think he is overrated. He is an important, and complex, figure in our country's history.
And he also knew how to spell "Independence", which means he had at least one up on you.

Answer 9

Doesn't matter...the constitution and all the other documents are being decimated by cowards who are afraid of terrorism and want security in exchange for liberty.

Answer 10

If that was the only thing he ever did then you might have a point.