what were some of Jefferson's major accomplishments during his first term in office?

Question

please tell me at least 4 or 5. longest and most detailed answer gets 10 pts.

Answer 1

Of course, several of the things Jefferson most WANTED to be remembered for (those he asked to have listed on his tombstone) came BEFORE he was President. And it's a bit difficult to come up with the five you wanted, but let's give it a go. (I'm glad you did not ask about his SECOND term -- hard to find ANY for that!)

1) The obvious answer -- the Louisiana Purchase (1803), doubling the size of the country for a coole $15 million One might quibble that it sort of fell into his lap, but no matter, he DID choose to pursue the opportunity. (The irony is that he had to violate his notion of limited Presidential powers to do so.)

2) Piggybacking on the first -- the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-6 - overlapping terms) provided useful information about the new territory.

3) Often forgotten -- "First Tripolitan War" of 1801-5. Jefferson had long insisted that the U.S. ought NOT to pay tribute to the Barbary Pirates, as all of Europe did, to prevent their harassing American shipping in and around the Mediterranean. The peace terms finally negotiated did not quite end the Barbary problem (that did not happen till the quick and decisive SECOND Tripolitan War in 1815).

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjprece.html
http://www.pccua.edu/keough/Thomas%20Jefferson%20and%20the%20Barbary%20Pirates.htm

Note that this act too had to go beyond strict Constitutional boundaries, in that he did not consult Congress before ordering the use of force. (Some have been highly critical of the precedent he set thereby. Others have noted that the President MUST be able to move quickly and flexibly in the use of force to protect American interests. Compare Lincoln's response to Fort Sumter, which could hardly wait for months while Congress assembled, then debated.)

These first three are the typical accomplishments cited, as you can see in the following example:
http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/keyevents.asp?PresidentNumber=3

Others?

4) Cutting the federal budget and taxes, and the national debt by a third. (This was made possible because of Adams's late term success in ending the "Quasi-War" with France, not to mention the fiscal stability that had come from Hamilton's financial program, which Jeffersonians had opposed. A good example of getting credit for what happens under your watch even if you predecessor's policies are responsible.)

5) Overseeing the nation's first transition from one political party to another, without any violence... (Of course, those who relinquished power ought to get a fair share of credit as well!) Jefferson may be credited here with some "temporizing" -- that is, in repealing some but not ALL Federalist actions (e.g., leaving the National Bank in place, though that was chiefly because it had been proven to work!!) The rhetoric of his first inaugural address, including what are generally considered conciliatory remarks, or at least reassurances to the losing party ("we are all federalists, we are all republicans..." [NO capitals in his original; that was a mistake by the printer])

Under this heading some would include allowing the Alien and Sedition Acts to lapse (though, ironically, in his second term, Jefferson took several steps against those who opposed HIS policies).

Harder to judge are Jeffersonian actions with regard to the judiciary, which was firmly in Federalist hands when he took office. In fact, Jeffersonians took a number of steps to try to remove Federalist judges, including impeachment on largely political grounds, but did show SOME important restraint (e.g., not simply cutting all the judgeships added by the lame-duck Federalist Congress in 1801), so that judicial independence, which seemed in jeopardy, was not undone.

On the other hand, some excesses were restrained almost by luck -- it was probably Aaron Burr's serious and even-handed approach to presiding over the trial of Chase, impeached Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, resulting in his NOT being convicted, that put the brakes on the Jeffersonian Republicans.

Answer 2

Thomas Jefferson First Term

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what were some of Jefferson's major accomplishments during his first term in office?
please tell me at least 4 or 5. longest and most detailed answer gets 10 pts.

Answer 4

He served as Governor of Virginia, as U.S. Minister to France, as Secretary of State under George Washington, as Vice-President in the administration of John Adams, and as President of the United States from 1801 to 1809.

The accomplishments that were important to him personally and are on his tombstone, "Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia"

The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States in 1803 and it led to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which mapped out the new territory and explained the flora and fauna which added to scientific knowledge.

Source: a variety of places plus I teach this stuff....