Thomas Jefferson and his significance in establishing a distinctive American identity.
Thomas Jefferson was a leading figure in colonial America.
As a founding father, Jefferson was one of the colonists chosen by the
Continental Congress to help draft the Constitution. He was therefore key in
establishing a distinctive American identity for creating the key ‘unalienable’
rights, values and liberties that America was founded on.
A distinctive feature of American identity that Jefferson
helped establish was political and social freedom. The American political
system was designed to create a stable, tyranny-free government. It ensured that
no leading area of the government had more dominance and that the division of
power was equal. In
context, Jefferson was a supporter of the French Revolution against the elitist
government, which arguably influenced his later ideas towards political democracy
and liberty.[1]
Similarly, the constitution acted as a social foundation for
Americans to live by. The constitution has been present in American identity,
from providing equal opportunity to achieve the ‘American dream’, to more
modern influences, such as challenging the civil rights of African-Americans by
both individuals and grass-root organisations; including the NAACP.
Furthermore, religious freedom has been an additional
underlying distinction in American identity, particularly through the
separation of the Church from the State. This is reflected through him
assisting the creation of the ‘Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom’ in 1777,
which allowed religious freedom and separation.[2]
This is relevant to the American identity of freedom, as it demonstrates being
free to pursue your religion, without facing persecution or oppression from the
state. It allowed religion to be embraced as a choice.
Sources:
Picture:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/thomasjefferson
[1]Ian William Henderson, Jefferson's Greatest Challenge and Success: Defining an American Identity, Elon University,
[2]
Henderson, American Identity, Elon University,
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