A Guide to the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson in Question and Answer Format

By: Mark Phillips

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Originally published as a section of the author’s larger “Conversations in Early American History: 1492-1837,” and equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 36 pages, this Kindle edition, in easy-to-follow question-and-answer format, clearly describes the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Sample passage: Did Jefferson want to send explorers west for the same reason the European countries sent explorers to the New World during the Age of Exploration—to find gold? No. Jefferson had several reasons for wanting to send explorers west. First, Jefferson was an amateur scientist; in fact, he once stated, “Science is my passion, politics my duty.” He was curious about the animals, plants, and minerals that might be found between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. I didn’t know that Jefferson was a scientist. As a matter of fact, during the week in 1797 when he was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States, Jefferson presented a formal research paper on fossils to his fellow scientists. And Jefferson was interested in the scientific side of farming. Using principles of physics discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, he redesigned the plow. Also, Jefferson’s interest in meteorology (the study of weather) and medicine led him to produce or improve devices in those fields. What other reasons did Jefferson have for sending explorers west? Jefferson wanted to extend America’s commerce; that is, he wanted to see if goods could be easily transported along an all-water route (or a passable land and water route) between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. Also, Jefferson wanted to establish friendly relations with Native American tribes of the West. Who did Jefferson send on the expedition? Jefferson chose former army captain Meriwether Lewis—who was then serving as Jefferson’s personal secretary—to lead the expedition. Then Lewis chose William Clark, another former army officer, to co-lead the group. Lewis and Clark assembled a team of about 45 men. About the Author: Mark Phillips has taught at Northwestern University and has worked as an editor in the publishing field for over 35 years. He is the author of 11 books on various subjects, including history, music, grammar, and vocabulary building.