Presidential Policies and Goals

      Today, rarely do presidents so clearly connect their vision for the country to their passions. Jefferson, however, transitioned his hobby into what he hoped would be the strength of the American economy. During the early stages of the country, the young nation had not yet determined which direction the country would develop, agriculture or industry. Jefferson believed that the country's future stood with the agricultural industry, and he did everything within his power to make sure his vision became reality.
       Before Jefferson's presidential campaign, he spent time touring the existing country to try and persuade farmers to grow an assortment of crops in order to hopefully provide the agricultural spark to the country. Although there is a strong possibility that these trips were the initial stages of his presidential campaign, Jefferson also was displaying his optimism for the agricultural sector of the economy. By providing U.S. farmers with innovative ways to grow a variety of crops, Jefferson understood that this would be a step in the right direction for the American economy.
       Another theory that Jefferson possessed was his interest in western expansion. The west held many unknown species, landscapes, and resources that were unknown at the time, but Jefferson understood that for the country to grow and prosper, he would have to harness the west's strengths and use them to further the country's growth. This mentality inspired the idea for Jefferson to send Lewis and Clark on their journey to reach the Pacific.
        In addition to his sponsorship of the Lewis and Clark voyage, Jefferson purchased 800,000 square miles of territory from the French. The French had agreed to sell the land, in part, due to an uprising in the colony of Santo Domingo. Although this purchase involved a bit of luck, there is still a great deal of credit to be given to Thomas Jefferson's keen eye for opportunities to better the country. Without the Louisiana Purchase, the country's history could have been completely altered due to an inability to become a self-sustaining economy.
        Jefferson championed several great accomplishment during his career in public service. In addition, I believe that Jefferson's plans for the country initiated through his passion for gardening. This  raises the question have other presidents done the same? For instance, Barack Obama's vision for a government run healthcare system could be connected to his career as a community organizer. Another example could be Lyndon Johnson's Great Society program is an effect of him growing up in rural Texas. There are many different ways in which presidents develop their policies, but none are as clear as Jefferson.