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Excerpt from Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, 1801
..it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government . .. Equal and exact justice to all men . .. peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none; the support of the State governments in all their rights . .. the preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor . .. encouragement of agriculture .
In a paragraph, discuss how Thomas Jefferson's actions as president did or did not stay true to the principles expressed in his First Inaugural Address.
(4 points)

Thomas Jefferson's actions as president did stay true to the principles expressed in his First Inaugural Address to a large extent. Jefferson's emphasis on equal and exact justice to all men can be seen in his efforts to reduce the power and influence of the federal government, and his support for states' rights. He believed in a more limited role for the federal government, allowing the states to govern themselves as much as possible. This aligns with his calls for the support of the state governments in all their rights and the preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor.

Furthermore, Jefferson's ideas about peace and honest friendship with all nations can be seen in his foreign policy decisions. He sought to avoid entangling alliances, preferring instead to focus on diplomatic relations and trade with other countries. This aligns with his principle of peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations. Jefferson also embraced the principle of encouragement of agriculture by promoting policies that supported farmers and rural interests. This included the Louisiana Purchase, which provided vast land for agricultural expansion.

However, it is important to note that Jefferson's actions did not always align perfectly with his principles. For example, his administration passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which severely restricted American trade with foreign nations. This contradicted his principle of peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations. Additionally, Jefferson's support for states' rights and limited government did not always extend to issues such as the expansion of slavery, where he made compromises that favored the interests of slaveholding states.

Overall, while Jefferson's actions as president did not always perfectly align with the principles expressed in his First Inaugural Address, they generally stayed true to his emphasis on limited government, support for states' rights, peace, and honest friendship with all nations, and the encouragement of agriculture.

Thomas Jefferson's actions as president generally stayed true to the principles expressed in his First Inaugural Address. He prioritized equal and exact justice for all, as seen in his efforts to abolish the international slave trade and his support for religious freedom. Jefferson also maintained peace, commerce, and honest friendship with other nations, demonstrated by his successful negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase and the avoidance of war during his presidency. Additionally, he supported state governments' rights and the preservation of the general government's constitutional vigor, as evidenced by his belief in strict interpretation of the Constitution and his push for limited federal power. Furthermore, Jefferson encouraged agriculture by promoting westward expansion and supporting the development of agrarian society. However, it is worth noting that Jefferson's signing of the Embargo Act in 1807, which aimed to protect America's interests by prohibiting trade with foreign nations, could be seen as contradicting his principle of commerce and friendship with all nations. Despite this, Jefferson's overall actions as president aligned with the principles he expressed in his First Inaugural Address.

Thomas Jefferson's actions as president largely stayed true to the principles expressed in his First Inaugural Address. He prioritized the idea of equal and exact justice to all men, as evidenced by his efforts to expand individual rights and protect the freedoms of individuals. Additionally, Jefferson sought to maintain peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, as he instituted policies to expand trade and avoid unnecessary entangling alliances. His support of the state governments in their rights demonstrated his commitment to decentralization and the preservation of the principles of federalism. Moreover, Jefferson's emphasis on the encouragement of agriculture was reflected in his policies to promote westward expansion, such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. While there were certainly instances where Jefferson's actions may have deviated from these principles, overall, his presidency displayed a commitment to upholding the ideals expressed in his Inaugural Address.