Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Final Thought on President and Gardens: Washington the Gardener


The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were avid gardeners, who knew?  Not only avid gardeners, but passionate horticulturists whose infatuation with the natural and growing world inspired the birth of our great nation.  By admiring the imposing homes of George Washington at Mt. Vernon, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, or James Madison’s Montpellier, any visitor would be struck by equally impressive gardens and farmland surrounding the estates.  Even John Adams on his modest 40 acres in Boston was a model gardener.  The sincere and deep interest these men had for gardening and growing was vital to the success of the country; this is especially true of George Washington.  George Washington’s views and leadership of the newly-formed United States of America due in large part to his well established love of the natural world and outdoors.  Washington’s zeal for agriculture supported his success as leader of the United States military in the Revolutionary War and as the first president of our country.
          



History had revealed that George Washington was a great lover of the outdoors.  Ever since he chopped his father’s cherry tree down, Washington’s best past times have been spent outside.  As a young man, Washington was an avid foxhunter, breeder of hunting hounds, fisher, and gardener. Considering what is required of a hunter: patience, contemplation (where the game is located, how to best hunt it, the weather, etc), and understanding of the outdoors.  The same can be said about breeding hounds or gardening: patience, understanding failures in breeding or growing one strand or gene and using this information constructively to improve his kennels or gardens.  In Andrea Wulf’s book, Presidents and Gardens, she reveals that Washington thought so deeply about his gardens that during the war, he would write home to his gardener about new ideas he had for planting, growing, and developing American plants.  His outlook for our nation was one of an agrarian state; Washington believed so much in the power of gardening, he believed a whole super power of a nation would be based on farms.  Washington’s conviction that an agrarian culture posses potential to become a great civilization is revealed in his passion for planting.  Similarly, Washington’s passion for plants is revealed by his belief that an agrarian culture posses potential to become a great civilization.  As a powerful leader, Washington was required to have strong convictions.  These convictions were so strong and made him such an extraordinary leader because they were rooted in sincere passion and love for gardening. There is a psychological phenomena which explains that when a person has an idea, that person will work extremely hard to make this idea work, on the other hand, if this person is asked to work on someone else’s project or idea, the effort put forth to make the idea work diminishes.  Washington loved gardens.  Washington incorporated gardens into shaping the United States of America. Combining gardening and the development of America was a natural step for Washington to take.  And because Washington had such passion for his ideas about gardening, he placed extra effort towards making the United States become a successful country.



Furthermore, if the new nation of the United States of America is to be compared to a seed or small plant, who better to raise it than a farmer?  As ridiculous as this sounds, a new country and a baby garden require the same sort of attention.  As mentioned above, firstly, patience.  A garden doesn’t grow over night, just as a country doesn’t either. And the leaders or gardeners will always encounter disappointments, but a successful leader embraces these misfortunes and reworks them into a more measured plan.  A country and a garden always need attention and tending to, but the leader must decide when certain plants or laws just wont work anymore, and when more of something is needed.
In conclusion, no man is better prepared to run a nation than a gardener.  Thinking of the Founding Fathers as gardeners should be a thought to consider for all voters and modern politicians. Be particular and deliberate.  Gardens, just like countries require patience and care; qualities needed in our government today. 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Madison's Sustainability Viewpoints in Today's America


Most Americans know the major roles George Washington and Thomas Jefferson played in the foundation of the United States. Fewer Americans know much about John Adams and his presidency. When it comes to James Madison, the majority of Americans hardly anything about him except that he was a Founding Father, served as the 4th President, and his wife’s name was Dolley. Ironically, Madison was every bit as influential as the first three presidents and his brilliant legal mind was an integral component to the Constitutional Convention and early days of the United States. Madison was a visionary who saw the broader picture of the United States and its future. In the areas of agriculture, natural environment, and conservation of the forests and wildlife Madison was far ahead of his time for a politician. Madison was perhaps America’s first environmentalist President whose ideas and conservation plans can be seen today.
Andrea Wulf provides an in-depth overview of Madison’s agricultural interests in her book Founding Gardeners. Madison was elected president of the Albemarle Agricultural Society, as he believed agriculture was vital for American independence and success (Wulf 204). As an intellectual farmer and politician, Madison researched and studied farming innovations, plants, and ecology to improve farming production and environmental quality. Madison was very concerned about the future and longevity of America’s wildlife, forests, and soil conditions. One of his primary concerns regarding the agricultural future of the nation was the inevitable destruction of forests due to the population growth theories presented by Thomas Malthus (Wulf 205). Madison feared that overpopulation of humans would create an imbalance within the natural wildlife and forests. He feared this imbalance would threaten the natural resources available to humans in the future if Americans did not take implement preventative farming techniques and preserve existing timber sources.
In an address given to the Albemarle Agricultural Society in 1818, Madison expresses his concern for the deforestation of American forests and overpopulation of various plants. He believed preserving the forests and wildlife would prove to be difficult in future generations due to man’s heavy use of timber and growing population. Madison expressed his concern for maintain a balance within in natures natural population of species. He recognized that man’s development and overproduction of plant species would have tremendous effects on the future food and plant availability for the future’s population growth (Madison 64-80).
Today’s environmentalists are often concerned with the destruction of trees due to the limited number of untouched forests left in the world. To Madison, it was purely a matter of natural balance between man and nature. He knew that the United States was a new country of endless possibility and that its success relied on the country’s virtually endless land and farming capabilities. If farmers did not immediately begin to implement new cultivating techniques, the food production could become a serious concern to the growing nation. Madison’s speech addressed issues of soil rotation, soil chemistry, and timber preservation that are still seen in today’s environmental law and wildlife conservation organizations.
Today, many of Madison’s ideas have been put into action by way of the Federal Government. We have thousands of state and national parks, which prevent further destruction and preserve thousands of acres of trees and wildlife. The United States Government has extensive laws on timber production, logging, and deforestation. International organizations have set extensive regulations on timber trade, particularly in regards to rare and exotic woods. These regulations insure the security and sustainability of plant and wildlife with our growing population.
Madison’s desire for forest conservation still remains a primary concern for the United States today. Since the time of Madison’s presidency, we have experienced more growth in population and destruction of forests than Madison could have even imagined. A 2006 census revealed that 21% of forests were privately owned, 35% were family owned, 33% owned by the Federal Government, and 10% were state and locally owned (American). Much of the privately owned land belongs to companies and timber producers.
In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act in order to protect and preserve the areas of the United States designated as “wilderness areas”. The Wilderness Act protects the existing “wilderness” areas for future generations from human abuse and destruction. Unfortunately, the government can only protect public and government owned land areas, which still leaves private owners responsible for their own property. Section 2 (a) of the Wilderness Act of 1964 states:

“In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” (“The Wilderness Act”)

This is, perhaps, the exact vision that Madison desired for the American people. Madison believed that nature had a natural balance that prevented overpopulation of species, but man’s farming overproduction and overuse of natural resources created an imbalance in nature (Wulf 207). Madison was clearly a visionary beyond his time whom many may have considered radical or eccentric in his agricultural viewpoints. However, as the 19th century environmentalist movement progressed, more and more farmers, botanists, and scientists began to hold the same viewpoint as Madison. New farming methods, such as the soil rotation suggested by Madison, began to be implemented nationwide. While the agricultural society in America had begun to adopt more sustainable methods of farming, Madison’s fear of deforestation, destruction, and overuse of timber was more prominent than ever before. That would change in the 20th century with the help of the United States Government.
In 1900, the United States passed the Lacey Act, which made it a crime to poach an animal in one state with the intention of selling it in another. The Lacey Act helped preserve animal populations throughout the United States, keeping the balance of various natural environments regulated and stable. In 2008, Congress amended the Lacey Act by adding a policy that extended the poaching crime to include the illegal logging of timber. This amendment adds further restrictions on timber logging crisis by preventing private and family owned forests from being used as a logging source (“U.S. Lacey Act”). With the current restrictions under the Lacey Act and the Wilderness Act of 1964, the forest and wildlife population in the United States are far more secure for future generations. These two recent congressional policies address James Madison’s fear of the America’s overuse of plant and wildlife resources.
            In recent years, Madison’s visionary concerns for the planets environment have become a global concern. Environmentalists, conservationists, and scientists worldwide have researched the planet’s environmental condition and future. Global Warming, deforestation, wildlife preservation remain central issues around the globe. Deforestation kills millions of plant and animal species and is a primary catalyst for global warming and climate change. Essentially, deforestation of trees dies up the soil underneath the removed trees and creates an increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which causes global climate changes (“Deforestation”). While the validity of the entire Global Warming theory is highly debated among scientists worldwide, the harmful effects of deforestation are undeniable. Regardless of the correlation with timber logging and climate changes, deforestation affects the natural balance of all living elements of a forested area and current timber rates cannot be sustained. This is precisely what James Madison feared in his Albemarle Society address in 1818. Fortunately, nearly all current large corporations are implementing modern methods of sustainability, which will hopefully continue to improve the environmental impact of our industrial society.
            James Madison is undoubtedly one of least appreciated Founding Fathers, political philosophers, and presidents in United States history. Madison’s efforts in the sustainability of American agriculture and natural environment are even more underappreciated by historians and the general public. His address to the Albemarle Agricultural Society in 1818 displays his deep concern for the American people’s future regarding food production and independence through efficient agricultural production. In a time of endless agricultural potential in the new nation, Madison took advantage of his position as a political leader to emphasize the importance of farming methods and forest preservation. His efforts made the general public view the vast undeveloped wilderness and farming as integral elements of American patriotism and pride.  Nearly two centuries since his Albemarle address, farming has continued to reform and improve, deforestation has been regulated and reduced, and thousands of acres are protected from any further destruction and abuse. James Madison was definitely not the first environmentalist, but he was arguably the first environmentalist to bring environmental and agricultural concerns into the national politics and civic duty of the American people. For that, he deserves to be recognized and remembered.

American Forest Foundation. N.p.. Web. 9 Dec 2013. <https://www.forestfoundation.org/conserve-america-private-forests>.

"Deforestation." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.   <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/>


"U.S. Lacey Act." Environmental Investigation Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://eia-global.org/lacey/>.

"The Wilderness Act of 1964." Wilderness.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.wilderness.net/nwps/legisact>.

Wulf, Andrea. Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation. New York: Vintage, 2012. Print.



Washington and Slaves

In the time period of George Washington and the other founding fathers slavery was a common practice in the United States. Although, we had learn about slavery from history classes, the thought of the founding fathers owning slaves have never crossed our mind , especially when considering the first president and founding father George Washington. George Washington has been considered many things a leader, hero, and farmer, but never a slave owner. When studying George Washing and his connections to slavery, it is clear that the history books have gloss over the fact that he was a slave owner. Should this be something that the American people should be embarrassed about? Throughout this paper, I will look at George Washington’s relationship with his slaves, the role the slaves play in the Mount Vernon, and his shocking order to have his slaves freed after he died.
            Washington became a slave owner at an early age when he inherited ten slaves, and this population of slaves only grew when he got older and continue to accumulate more wealth. (Hirschfeld 11) Similar to other plantations during that time period, Washington’s slaves were fed, clothed, and housed as inexpensively as possible. The slaves worked the standard shift from sunrise until sundown unless they were
sick or injured; they could be punished severely for violations like running away from the plantation. George Washington treatment of his slaves has been documented with two opposing accounts. One account that is noted from his neighbors portrays Washington as a mean slave master who treated his slaves more harshly than any other slave owner in the surrounding region ("Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery"). On the other hand, it was noted that Washington treated his slaves far more compassionately than the other slaves owner of Virginia ("Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery"). With these conflicting accounts of Washington treatment of his slaves, it is unclear if Washington had a good or bad relationship with his slaves, but the fact that Washington did own slaves and use the same common labor requirements and punishments as other slave owners showed that his slaves should be only viewed as property that will serve him and his estate.
            Mount Vernon consisted of eight thousand acres divided into five farms: Mansion House, Dogue Run, Union, Muddy Hole, and River. Each individual farm contained a separate village of both African and Virginia-born slaves (Thompson 1999). The skilled group of slaves that consisted of cooks, dairy maids, distillers, gardners, wagon and cart drivers, maids, bricklayers, and butlers resided at Mansion House (Thonpson 1999). The other four farms consisted of
mainly unskilled farm workers and had a lower quality lifestyle compared to the slaves at the Mansion House (Dennis 2002).  Like most slaves in America around this time period, the slaves at Mt. Vernon had the same common tasks. Their jobs were to continue the up-keep of the plantation, gardening, and perform the role of servants to Washington and his family. For as much credit as Washington gets as an innovator, architecture, and farmer; the creation of Mt. Vernon would have not been the magnificent estate it is without the help of slaves. Although it may have been Washington’s ideas that served as the blueprint to the creation of Mt. Vernon, the slaves’ labor proved that the slaves were just as talented to take his ideas and implement them to the masterpiece of Mt. Vernon; therefore, it is very astonishing how the slaves that are connected to Mt. Vernon have not received any credit or is not even mention when discussion George Washington and Mt. Vernon. 
            For Washington being a slave owner in the late 1700’s, one of his last request that he put in his will has to be one of the most peculiar things a slave owner can do in this time period: he requested his slaves to be freed after his and his wife’s passing. Washington wrote his will several months before his death in December 1799 ("Free Slaves in Last Will and Testment"). In the document, Washington left instructions for the eventual emancipation of his slaves after the death of his wife. From the 318 slaves at Mount Vernon in 1799, 123 of the slaves were property of George Washington by law and were entitled to be freed as per the terms of the will ("Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery"). Additionally, he provided for their education as well as declaring those old slaves and children without parents be comfortably clothed and fed by his heirs ("Free Slaves in Last Will and Testment"). Pushing education for his former slaves when it was very unpopular amongst the masses sent a strong statement to his countrymen, both current and upcoming. Washington freeing his slaves can be seen as a humanitarian deed to release his slaves because they have ultimately served their purpose to Washington and his wife. The evolution of Washington’s view of his slaves can be catalog from him seeing the slaves as his property that will help further his tobacco farms and serve his family, to his last deed that showed he changed his view of his slaves and eventually saw them as humans and because he is dying and Martha will not too long after him, they should have the right to live their lives as free people.
            George Washington may have been a product of a time period where owning slaves were socially acceptable, but that does not mean that this event should be blacked out from the history of Washington and Mt. Vernon. My opinion of Washington did not change after researching this topic, but it did open my eyes to the realization that Washington owned slaves. Washington should still be celebrated as a leader, hero, and founding father of this country; but when it comes to farming and the successfulness of the Mt. Vernon estate, his slaves should also be recognize for their contributions to. In addition, Washington groundbreaking decision near the time of his death should glorify Washington to a new height because of his bold resolution to have his slaves freed after his death in order for them to have the lives Americans should have in a country where they fought so desperately to attain those values.

References
"Free Slaves in Last Will and Testment." PBS. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/milestones/free_slaves_about.html>.
Hirschfeld, Fritz. "George Washington and Slavery." University of Missouri Press. (1992): 11. Print.
Pogue, Dennis J. "The Domestic Architecture Of Slavery At George Washington's Mount Vernon." Winterthur Portfolio 37.1 (2002): 3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.
"Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery." Mount Vernon. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec 2013. <http://www.mountvernon.org/slavery/10facts>.
Thompson, Mary V.  “The Lives of Enslaved Workers On George Washington’s Outlying
            Farms.”
Blake Austin
POLI 3710- Presidents and Gardens
9 December 2013
Washington’s Impact Historically
            All of George Washington’s impact as a president on America can be seen through his time spent on the gardens of his home Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon during a time of War sent letters back focused on the gardens. The garden was enormous and spectacular. It was the blueprint not only for future gardens but his view on politics. He understood even through defeating Britain he would return to Mount Vernon to live happily ever after. It was a physiological retreat for Washington during such times of violence. Vernon was an elongate place where its effects were to motivate Washington to return too after the war.
            
Washington was an All-American man. His appearance was one of the factors people sought out his leadership. He was a big man of his time. Washington stood a giant over is peers at a listed height and weight of six feet and two inches and weighed in at a tough two hundred pounds. His appearance was a symbol of what Americans wanted to portray.
            
George Washington’s background of being a man of the land landed himself in the American history books forever. Washington led his troops in a battle for freedom and at the time was defeating the greatest military the world had seen. By defeating such a strong army the people of the new founded freedom offered a dictatorship position but Washington declined as the mentioned in Andrea Wulf’s book just as Cincinnatus did. Because of his decision it led to term limits as the president. Washington did something during the fight that was seen as impossible today. He taught his troops to garden through regimental gardens. The reasons was not just to teach them how to feed themselves but also he saw gardening as a way away from the war mentally.
           
I think Washington’s greatest impact on America today was something that goes under the radar. I believe that Washington changed the thinking of American people. This is where I think his greatest impact is felt today without people understanding why. Using Mount Vernon as a symbol of America and keeping out foreign plants was a sign that America will and can stand on its own without the Britain influence. The people of America looked at Washington for guidance even after his presidency. I find it amazing how he went as far as changing the direction of Mount Vernon from Eastern to Western. Showing the people that America will look to expand western without the help of the eastern part of the world. It showed the people that its leader is fully in love with America! Mount Vernon was a symbol of America without the help from anyone. Washington used his love of gardening to teach the people what America is focused on and its goals of to be beautiful and elongate without the help of anyone.




Imagine a time of war. The violence and the images of what it takes to be a free American. Understand that no matter what happens domestically with America and its policies, once someone threatens that freedom we all unite to destroy the threat. I believed that Washington’s greatest accomplishment is being a leader that the people needed in changing their mental state. Given the people the hope and the symbols needed to keep fighting for our freedom as a nation.

            

During the readings from Andrea Wulf’s book I understand the difference of Washington’s effects on America and how his way of demonstrating his motivations would not be acceptable in today’s politics. George Washington loved his land. His land was his motivation to fight Britain. That is what Washington leaves on a top of other things he influenced. He leaves a burning flame in every American to fight for the free Washington led his troops to win. His impact is an everlasting in Americans without anyone truthfully understanding why that fire burns. He was an All-American man that died fighting for the land and gardens he greatly loved and understands the impact of its meanings during a time today where no one fully respects gardening. It built our country and one day we will need to get back to our founding fathers ideals and their passions to survive.

Thomas Jefferson

 
On an ideological level, the founders believed America should be an agrarian republic of virtuous citizens who were connected to the country because they worked the soil.

Jefferson’s view of our country’s future was not that of a conglomeration of large urban areas as manufacturing centers. He wanted to secure an agrarian democracy, with land for everyone, a somewhat utopian view. Small farmers, owning enough land to guarantee economic self-sufficiency and personal independence. Thomas Jefferson’s vision of his country was that of a vast republic populated by yeomen farmers. Jefferson believed vast lands were necessary for his agrarian republic.

Now as you can see in my thesis, I will explain how he kept this vision focused all his life. Keeping this in mind Jefferson decision to buy the Louisiana landmass was totally consistent with his vision, and the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 nearly doubled the size of the United States.  The future of nationality safeguarding his country from foreign control and borders secured, and full access of Mississippi river channel fulfilling of our proper destiny in the new world and in the larger sphere of universal history,.

In his own eyes, Thomas Jefferson considered himself first and always a man of the land. He felt that "those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God...." What made Jefferson unique in his time was his understanding of the interrelationship between humanity and the environment and how they shaped each other. This wisdom and his subsequent practices, such as crop rotation, use of fertilizer, and contour plowing, characterize him and Washington as one of America's early agronomists. Thomas Jefferson was an inventor.

He invented the iron and mold board plow that dug deeper than 3 inches.

This plow helped farmers reduce erosion as they farmed on the Virginia hillside.

Jefferson and Washington was one of the first Americans to propound crop rotation as a way of renewing the soil. He devised an extensive seven-year plan for his land, as follows:

  1. Wheat, followed the same year by turnips, to be fed to the sheep.
  2. Corn and potatoes mixed, and in autumn the vetch to be used as fodder in the spring if wanted, or to be turned in as a dressing.
  3. Peas or potatoes, or both according to the quality of the fields.
  4. Rye and clover sown on it in the spring. Wheat may substituted here for rye.
  5. Clover.
  6. Clover, and in autumn turn it in and sow the vetch.
  7. Turn in the vetch in the spring, then sow buckwheat and turn that in, having hurled off the poorest spots for cow penning, (so these spots could be improved by the manure).

He used this rotation system with legumes and grasses in an attempt to bind the soil against washing out, to improve his hard-used land, and to arrive at the best fit between the environment and plant. The necessity for land to sustain, Jefferson probably sketched this crop rotation plan sometime during his post-presidential years at Monticello. Good crops were incredibly important to the economy and to America's self-sufficiency Jefferson was one of the first Americans to realize that the bounty of this continent was finite. If the nation and its citizens were to continue to enjoy the fruits of the New World, then its resources must be handled with proper stewardship.

In Jefferson's era comparatively few farmers were concerned with returning any vital elements back to the earth by methods such as animal manuring, crop rotation, and fertilizers. In fact, the Virginia Piedmont of his time was already played out by adverse agricultural practices. In the short span of years that the area was opened for European use, tobacco had become the chief crop; this, combined with corn, the staple food crop, had taken a heavy toll on the productive land. Erosion and soil exhaustion followed the pioneers as sloping land was cleared of natural vegetation and continuously planted with the same crops.

Under this defective sequence of tobacco and corn, planted in rows that usually ran up and downhill, much of the virgin topsoil had been lost by Jefferson's time. The culture was tobacco and Indian corn as long as they would bring enough to pay the labor.

Jefferson was concerned not only with current return from the land but also with the effects of land abuse on posterity. Unlike his contemporaries, he knew that the productive land of the United States was not infinite. When he purchased the Louisiana Territory, Federalists opposed this, questioning why they should buy more "for land of which we already have too much.. Jefferson famous quote independent farmers should be the foot soldiers of the nation. Thomas Jefferson survives. He gave us our ideals, and it is in the nature of an ideal that it can never be perfectly realized, but must be constantly sought and approximated. And no life is perfect, seamless. The contradictions and pitfalls of Jefferson's life also define America.

SOURCE : •Betts, Edwin M., ed. Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book: With Commentary and Relevant Extracts from Other Writings. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953. Rep. 1976, 1987,)

 

Thomas Jefferson: Mastering Relationships

While studying the founding fathers this semester, one that stood out greatly was Thomas Jefferson.  Thomas Jefferson was a president of many accomplishments and advances in the country that we live in today.  Having said that, he would not have been as successful without the relationships he established along the way.  In almost everything Jefferson achieved, there was someone working with him.  Being very personable, mixed with his intelligence helped him gain the respect he had around the world.  Some relationships in particular were very helpful in certain situations Jefferson found himself in.  

Connections Inside the Louisiana Purchase

Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon 

Jefferson made a bold decision when taking on the West.  A few things had to happen in order for this expedition to take place.  Coming in close contact with Napoleon would be the first step. In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte took back the area of land that was previously controlled by Spain.  When things started to fall apart for the French, Napoleon had a surprise for Jefferson and the whole country. In the article, Jefferson, Napoleon and the Louisiana Purchase, by Victoria Cooke, she states, Jefferson wrote to Robert Livingston,  at the time serving as minister to France, "... we must learn at once wether we can acquire N. Orleans or not," and sent future president James Monroe to assist in the negotiations. Livingston and Monroe were authorized to purchase the city of New Orleans, but Napoleon's representatives surprised the Americans by offering the entire Louisiana Territory (Cooke 2003).   Andrea Wulf explains in her book Founding Fathers, that although Jefferson's
counterparts James Monroe and Robert Livingston had done their part in trying to clench the Louisiana Territory through Jefferson's instruction, Napoleon had other reasons for giving up the land.  "The French soldiers, however, never made it to Louisiana because almost all of them died, either in battle or from a devastating malaria epidemic.  In the wake of this disastrous campaign, and with his army decimated, Napoleon abandoned the idea of a French colony in North America and decided to concentrate on Europe instead (Wulf 2011). When Jefferson learned that he would be sending his secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to embark across the entire vast unknown part of North America, the expedition became much more interesting.  Wulf tells her readers, "Originally conceived as an expedition through Spanish and French territory, Lewis's journey would now cross a continent largely free from European Rivals"(Wulf 2011). Due to the civil relationship that Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte had established, the Louisiana Purchase was a peaceful exchange of land between two nations with extremely different leaders.  Cooke writes, at that moment in 1803, the determination of Jefferson to acquire the port of New Orleans coincided with Napoleon's decision of rid himself of France's colonial responsibilities for the Louisiana Territory, altering the course of American history and beginning fulfillment of Jefferson's dream for a nation which stretched from sea to sea (Cooke 2003). 

Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis  

Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis had a very close and important relationship long before the expedition west actual went forward. When Jefferson served as Secretary of State under president George Washington, he proposed an exploration to find out what else was waiting for them in North America. Meriwether Lewis, a young man from Virginia, who Jefferson knew through family ties, volunteered to conduct the difficult task. He did not receive the assignment and it was given to someone else. Unfortunately, (or so they thought) due to a backfire in the chosen leader, AndrĂ© Michaux the expedition never took place at that time. Jefferson knew that the time would come to explore America, and that him and Meriwether would have to wait it out together. Tom Huntington wrote in his article, The Lewis and Clark Expedition, No doubt Jefferson kept Lewis's zeal for exploration in mind. In February 1801 the president-elect asked his fellow Virginian to serve as his private secretary. Lewis may have seemed an odd choice for the position, but we can assume the president had some other plans in mind for the young man (Huntington 2003). As Jefferson and Lewis began working together, their relationship built into a team.  He gave Lewis the mission to explore the west. Most importantly many historians reference the quote of Jefferson saying "The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River", in order to find a trade route across the continent to the Pacific (Wulf 2013). Jefferson also instructed Lewis to do many other things, and Lewis was in a position to do whatever the president asked of him.  He requested things such as mapping the new territory, and gaining knowledge of the Native Americans, he was to observe the climate and animals that roamed the unknown land.  Jefferson became very fond of Meriwether.  He made sure that if Lewis felt threatened at anytime, that he was to retreat back rather than to push forward.  Jefferson and Lewis soon build something of a father-son bond.  In The Lewis and Clark Expedition, the author shares a quote from Jefferson himself, "Against losing time in the description of objects already possessed, honest, disinterested, liberal, of sound understanding and a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he should report would be as certain as if seen by ourselves, with all these qualifications as if selected and implanted by nature in one body, for this express purpose, I could have no hesitation in confiding the enterprise to him" (Huntington 2003). Whether people today realize the importance of this friendship between these two men, no one really knows what life would be like without the bond they created to make important advances in our country.  

Connections at Monticello 

Thomas Jefferson and his Property 

When Jefferson reached the end of his presidency, he could finally go home to do what he wanted to do, tend to his garden at the beautiful Monticello.  Thomas Jefferson was so passionate about what went into the ground around his estate in Virginia that it became a part of him.  One would say that Jefferson had a love affair with the plants outside his window.  Wulf shares that Jefferson used his gardening to bring his family together, "As with his daughters, Martha and Mary, in the early 1790's, Jefferson's love for his family and his
garden became intertwined in playful letters--almost as if nature became the stage on which to play out his feelings (Wulf 2013).  When he returned home in March of 1809, he immediately went out to inspect the farms and gardens he had missed so dearly. A quote from Jefferson shows up in Wulf's writing, "Never did a prisoner, released from his chains, feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power" (Wulf 2011). He admired his collection of weeping willows and spring bulbs that had yet to begin to blossom. He was finally home.  Said in Founding Gardeners, Jefferson observed, but he could nonetheless feel his "vis vitae"--his energy of life--returning to him (Wulf 2013).  After a successful expedition west, Jefferson had many exciting specimens to add to his garden.  Many changes would begin to take place in his beloved soil and he could not wait to get started transforming his place of peace just like he did our country.  

Thomas Jefferson and his Slaves 

Thomas Jefferson had a unique relationship with the slaves that he owned.  He wasn't the average slave master but worked with his slaves to make their lives as "normal" as possible.  He made them feel as if they were an important part of Monticello.  Henry Wiencek wrote in his article Thomas Jefferson Slave Master, The big surprise that emerges from Jefferson is not only that he embraced slavery as essential to maintaining his personal standard of living but that he was at the forefront of efforts be Virginia plantation owners to modernize and prolong the "peculiar institution"(Wiencek 2012). Jefferson
provided the slaves with their own vegetable plots that they were allowed to spend their free time on sundays and evenings working in.  Jefferson would then buy what the slaves had grown and what he had failed to supply himself.  Wulf shares in her book, almost one hundred and fifty slaves lived at Monticello during Jefferson's retirement, and many of the families had their own yards. They sold to Jefferson cucumbers, potatoes, cabbages, squashes and lettuces as well as apples and melons (Wulf 2013).  Jefferson holding a fair relationship with the slaves he had working for the land helped keep the peace and allowed everyone to live a worthy life for the situation they were in.  As Jefferson said, "To give liberty to, or rather abandon persons whose habits have been formed in slavery is like abandoning children" (Wiencek 2012).  

John Adams the Vain

            Is John Adams an often overlooked figure in American history? When compared to men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, even Benjamin Franklin, it can certainly appear that way. The problem with that question is that John Adams was not like some of the other Founders. His contributions were often more subtle. While he was outspoken about his philosophies on government, his most important contributions were behind the scenes. For example, it was his recommendation that led to George Washington becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and it was at his urging that Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence. I would argue that Adams’s personality did not lend itself to the same sort of greatness with which we often remember Washington and Jefferson.
            Adams was an ambitious man, seeking greatness his entire life, which led to his decision to study law, as opposed to following in the footsteps of his father, who was a farmer that also worked as a shoemaker, a fact not lost on his in-laws (Ferling 26; Gelles 24). As a New Englander, his worldview was shaped in a large part by the Puritan traditions. He was hard-working and believed that morality was central to any good government. This attitude was in sharp contrast to those of the Middle and Southern colonies, such as Virginia, whose heritage was far more commercial (Peterson 6). Unlike Washington or Jefferson, Adams was not a large landowner. He and his wife, Abigail, lived on a more meager 40 acres that they tended. This had an impact on Adams both in his mind, and in a more practical way. He did not enjoy the benefits of 18th century plantation ownership, especially the income. His income and success largely hinged upon his own hard work, particularly when we look at the source of Washington’s and Jefferson’s landholdings. Adams was successful as a lawyer, and a highly respected member of Massachusetts society, but that was not enough for the ambitious Adams.
            In a letter to his wife Abigail from June 1775, following the Battle of Bunker Hill, he lamented that he “must leave others to wear the Lawrells [sic] which I have sown; others, to eat the Bread which I have earned. -- A Common Case” (masshistory.org). Adams was one of the most outspoken proponents of Independence from Great Britain, and was instrumental in uniting the Colonies in their struggle. Before his recommendation that Washington should command the Continental Army, the conflict was confined to New England, particularly Massachusetts. Adams knew that with Washington, a Virginian already renowned for his service in the French and Indian War, as the Commander-in-Chief, the Colonies would be more unified in a move toward separation. Unfortunately for Adams, Washington’s reputation and personality overshadowed his work to unite the Colonies. In fact, years after Adams’s presidency, he wrote to his friend Benjamin Rush, commenting sarcastically on Washington’s “talents” (gilderlehrman.org).
George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson
            Washington was not the only Virginian with whom Adams had a turbulent relationship. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams certainly had one of the most interesting relationships between any of the Founders. Although they started off as good friends, united by their intellect (both were lawyers as well), their relationship quickly became strained following the adoption of the Constitution (Peterson 5). It is no wonder that their relationship should be difficult, especially given their conflicting political ideologies and backgrounds. As stated above, Adams was from New England, a region that was profoundly influenced by the Puritan traditions, whereas Jefferson was a Virginia planter, with a much more commercial history (Peterson 6). Of course, Adams was a Federalist while Jefferson essentially created the opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans. Unfortunately, Adams’s desire for greatness ultimately led to his downfall. As President, Adams became truly popular in his own right, something he had not experienced throughout his life (Miller 8). The Federalist-controlled Congress, in the face of the perceived threat of the French Revolution, passed the Alien & Sedition Acts, which Adams signed. While the laws were supposedly aimed at protecting the United States from foreign threats, the reality is that the Federalists were essentially trying to eliminate the threat they faced from the Democrats. This was Adams’s downfall. The Presidential election of 1800 saw Adams defeated by his old friend from Virginia.
            What was the cause of Adams’s bitterness toward his fellow revolutionaries? According to many of them in their personal letters, it was his vanity (history.wisc.edu/). Adams was absolutely dedicated to the American cause, and while this was praised by his contemporaries, it was also seen by them as a double-edged sword, often making is impossible for him to succeed in his capacity as an ambassador, particularly concerning the French. Why? Why was Adams so difficult to work with? Aside from his heritage as discussed above, I think Andrea Wulf provides some insight into his personality that certainly bears discussing.

            As I mentioned above, Adams did not have the means of an 18th century American plantation owner. As Wulf discusses, though he considered himself first and foremost a farmer, he did not approach farming the same way that his more wealthy colleagues did (43). Whereas Washington and Jefferson sought to create vast, grand estates, Adams was forced to garden on the small scale that his land and his means allowed. That is not to say that he did enjoy it, but he did not have the option to do otherwise until much later in his life.
            In conclusion, Adams was in some ways the black sheep among the Founders. While he and Jefferson were intellectuals, their political ideologies drove them apart. Though he was a Federalist, his upbringing and means distanced him from the “great” men that sought to build a powerful nation, such as Washington and Hamilton. And unlike many of his peers, Adams was not rich for much of his life, nor was he incredibly popular, though that is what he sought. Washington and Jefferson did not seek the fame and greatness that they achieved, while Adams did, but was not rewarded in that way. I would argue that that is justified. Adams accomplished a great deal behind the scenes, which is where he seemed to excel. When he was given an opportunity to achieve the greatness he sought, as President of the United States he signed into law four of the most notorious bills ever passed by Conges, the Alien & Sedition Acts. John Adams was instrumental to the success of the American colonies in their struggle for independence, as well as contributing heavily to political thought in the United States. We owe a great deal of thanks to John Adams, but his own actions made it impossible for him to achieve the same sort of greatness which we attribute to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Adams is not less important than Washington and Jefferson, but his greatness is more subtle, and is marred by mistakes resulting from his personal faults.






 References
Ferling, John. Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800. New York: Oxford
            University Press, 2004. Print.

Gelles, Edith. Portia: The World of Abigail Adams. Bloomington: Indiana University Press,
            1992. Print.

Miller, John. Crisis in Freedom: The Alien and Sedition Acts. Boston: Little, Brown and
            Company, 1951, Print.

Peterson, Merrill. Adams and Jefferson: A Revolutionary Dialogue. Athens: The University
            of Georgia Press, 1976. Print.

Wulf, Andrea. Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of
            the American Nation. New York: Vintage Books, 2011. Print.

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 - 27 June 1775 [electronic edition]. Adams
            Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.
            http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/.

Letter from John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 11 November 1807 [electronic edition].
            The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

“John Adams.” Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for the Study of
            the American Constitution. http://history.wisc.edu/csac/founders/john_adams.htm.