USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Jefferson has been a great democratic icon precisely because he so eloquently articulated fundamental tensions in Americans’ understanding of the people’s power. The United States had “the strongest Government on earth, ” Jefferson told his fellow Americans in his first Inaugural Address on March 4, 1801.

Detailed explanation-2: -He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean.

Detailed explanation-3: -As he did throughout his life, Jefferson strongly believed that every American should have the right to prevent the government from infringing on the liberties of its citizens. Certain liberties, including those of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, should be sacred to everyone.

Detailed explanation-4: -Jefferson also felt that the central government should be “rigorously frugal and simple.” As president he reduced the size and scope of the federal government by ending internal taxes, reducing the size of the army and navy, and paying off the government’s debt.