Gowanda Central School - Valley Bugle Yearbook (Gowanda, NY)

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Thomas Jefferson, His Contribution to American Democracy In these dark days of World War II, when so many servicemen and women are fight- ing and dying for the right to live as free Americans, many times we on the homefront stop to think of what the word democracy means. When we think of its connotation, we should also give thought to those staunch men of old who also fought for our way of life, men like Thomas Iefferson, who unlike scores of unknown warriors, did receive the acclaim worthy of his efforts. Although Thomas Iefferson was criticized by many, those who have studied his life and accomplishments can find little at fault. In Iefferson, one may find the earliest budding of what could be called the future American tradition. Had he been merely a writer, a states- man, a plantation owner, or a soldier, it would be easier to evaluate his work, but since he was as well, an educator, architect, mathematician, astronomer, scientific farmer, musician, equestrian, and inventor, one could not go into detail without including every aspect of his abundant life. He was, a man, whose mind was so versatile, that he himself was the most marvelous of wanderersf' Thomas Iefferson, reared in a strong Virginia home, had such a deep and sincere sense of obligation, and had such strong principles, that he had no love of politics and the game that it was, although he was a political figure until the last years of his life. ln the Declar- ation of Independence, his greatest work, he made himself prophet and spokesman for all the true benefactors who have done their utmost to assure their people of life, liberty, and the pursuit of personal happiness: likewise making himself the spiritual champion of the people of our nation. One of Iefferson's greatest accomplishments was the founding of the University of Virginia, which became a model for all Southern colleges. He was called the Father of the highest education of the future South , for he fought desperately for universal education. As President, Iefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territory strengthened the pioneer democracy. Hand in hand with his idea of territorial expansion was his belief that armies and navies were dangerous to liberties of a free people, and he kept them reduced at all times. Among other contributions to our government which Iefferson had earlier introduced into the state of Virginia were local self-government: maintenance of Indian reservations: a peace policy: strict construction of the Constitution with freedom of thought and speech: abolition of feudal hangovers, such as primogeniture and entail: and the emancipation of our black brothers. Thomas Iefferson, who did not want to see the mistakes of the Old World repeated here in America, profoundly believed in the intelligence of the people: and this measure of trust in the goodness of men as well as his trust in their ability to govern themselves, resulted in principles of American government. These principles, handed down to our generation, have established American ideals. May our boys win in their struggle to preserve these principles of democracy and to extend them to freedom-loving peoples everywhere. ' Van Loon, Thomas Icfferson, p. 32 PATRICIA WEBSTER F 7 -