| Thomas Jefferson, our third president,was born in | | | | government."-Thomas Jefferson to the Rhode Island |
| Albermarle County, Virginia on April 13, 1743. Jefferson | | | | Assembly, 1801. What Thomas Jefferson was saying |
| received his education at the College of William and | | | | in this quote is that small governments like our state |
| Mary and then went on to study law with George | | | | and our towns are the ones best fit to deal with the |
| Wythe. Thomas Jefferson well known for his part in | | | | concerns of the people. In turn helping the people live |
| writing the Declaration of Independence and for being | | | | the best and happiest lives possible. Which is the |
| our third president. Thomas Jefferson has contributed | | | | reason we have government. "The first object of |
| greatly to the building of our government. He was a | | | | human association is the improvement of their |
| truly remarkable man who set forth the basic ideals | | | | condition."-Thomas Jefferson: Declaration and Protest |
| and beliefs in government that have stayed the same | | | | of Virginia, 1825. To keep people safe and things in |
| for over two hundred years. In researching Jefferson | | | | order so people can live in domestic tranquility. |
| was a man who poetically expressed the fundamental | | | | While supporting the idea that small government is best |
| purpose behind government and our republic. | | | | suited to deal with domestic concerns he believed that |
| Thomas Jefferson believed that states could best | | | | a large "confederation" is the best way to manage |
| govern the domestic matters within its state, but a | | | | foreign concerns that effect all the smaller |
| strong Central Government is needed as well to deal | | | | governments under the "confederation. Along with |
| with foreign affairs and to keep the country strong as | | | | foreign national defense that is best controlled by a |
| a unified nation. "While smaller governments [states] | | | | large central government. Certainly standing together |
| are better adapted to the ordinary objects of society, | | | | unified a group is stronger than each individual standing |
| larger confederations more effectively secure | | | | alone. |
| independence and the preservation of republican | | | | |