Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address
The election of 1800 marked the first time in United States history in which there was a transfer of power from one political party to another. The transfer of power was peaceful even though it followed a heated campaign. Thomas Jefferson, former Secretary of State under George Washington and creator of the Democratic-Republican Party, defeated the Federalist, John Adams, for the presidency. In March 1801, Jefferson delivered a memorable inaugural address. It was memorable for its "consummation of eighteenth-century elegance in style", for its conciliatory tone, and for its restatement of Republican principles. (1) Jefferson indirectly ‘addressed' his speech to Samuel Adams. Jefferson hoped the principles expressed in the Inaugural Address were in the spirit of Samuel Adams. He wanted Adams to approve of the principles he would put into place as president. (2)
Jefferson wanted to make sure the American people approved of his......
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Approximate Word Count: 582
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |