Zach, I agree that Jefferson left a bigger impact on our nation, and I really liked your quote at the beginning of your introduction.

Noelle, in your introduction I agree that he was the more powerful advocate for the people and that he had a better view on human rights.

Jaycee, I really agree with your conclusion about how he inspired the American mind and how he helped create our identity.

In my opinion, Thomas Jefferson had a bigger impact on America rather than Alexander Hamilton. Whether or not he had negatives that took away from his impact I support Jefferson because he made the bigger impact due to his ideas about inalienable rights, his strict interpretation of the Constitution, and his favoring of a more Democratic government rather than following the British model.

Even though Thomas Jefferson grew up in a rather wealthy family he was always in support of equality and inalienable rights. To him it did not matter whether the individual was black or white, but rather the fact that he was a citizen of this great nation and deserved the same rights as anyone else. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote all men are endowed to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He also favored slave free states and didn't discriminate against anyone in the states. With his dependency on the common people and his distrust in special privilege he showed that he relied on the common people to do what was right and that he didn't give the richer people any more power than the common people. Due to this we can surmise that Thomas Jefferson had a well-developed character, respected everyone equally, and was more of a social figurehead rather than Hamilton.

Unlike Hamilton, Jefferson favored a more Democratic government rather than a British styled government. This meant that Jefferson wanted more power to be put in the people and not the government officials. He also wanted the common people to have as equal of a vote as the rich and wealthy would. Jefferson wanted a Democratic government in order to restore power to the people and let them elect their officials rather than the officials have an “Entitlement” to their position. He didn't want a wealthy politician deciding what to do with the country, but rather he wanted the people to decide. Jefferson also favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution. I agree with this because our country’s political system was based off of the Constitution and it is what we should rule ourselves by. Even George Washington once said, “The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.” This was because it was written for us to follow it and not stray from.

Thomas Jefferson made a lasting impact on our nation that we will never forget. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, established the ideas of inalienable rights and equality, wanted a more Democratic government, and wanted to have a stricter interpretation of the Constitution. He also made a lasting impression on the world because other countries model themselves after us. Many immigrants leave their nation because they would rather live in a nation in which everyone is equal and free. I support Thomas Jefferson because he helped us become who we are as a nation to this day.