Founding Fathers : Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

In the thick of party conflict in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

This powerful advocate of liberty was born in 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high social standing. He studied at the College of William and Mary, then read law. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, and took her to live in his partly constructed mountaintop home, Monticello.

Freckled and sandy-haired, rather tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker. In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786.

Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France in 1785. His sympathy for the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton when Jefferson was Secretary of State in President Washington's Cabinet. He resigned in 1793.

Sharp political conflict developed, and two separate parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, began to form. Jefferson gradually assumed leadership of the Republicans, who sympathized with the revolutionary cause in France. Attacking Federalist policies, he opposed a strong centralized Government and championed the rights of states.

As a reluctant candidate for President in 1796, Jefferson came within three votes of election. Through a flaw in the Constitution, he became Vice President, although an opponent of President Adams. In 1800 the defect caused a more serious problem. Republican electors, attempting to name both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The House of Representatives settled the tie. Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election.

When Jefferson assumed the Presidency, the crisis in France had passed. He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean. Further, although the Constitution made no provision for the acquisition of new land, Jefferson suppressed his qualms over constitutionality when he had the opportunity to acquire the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803.

During Jefferson's second term, he was increasingly preoccupied with keeping the Nation from involvement in the Napoleonic wars, though both England and France interfered with the neutral rights of American merchantmen. Jefferson's attempted solution, an embargo upon American shipping, worked badly and was unpopular.

Jefferson retired to Monticello to ponder such projects as his grand designs for the University of Virginia. A French nobleman observed that he had placed his house and his mind "on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe."

He died on July 4, 1826.

Next Time; Founding Fathers : Samuel Adams

Peace,

Keith

Founding Fathers: John Adams

John Adams

Learned and thoughtful, John Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," he said, doubtless thinking of his own as well as the American experience.

Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735. A Harvard-educated lawyer, he early became identified with the patriot cause; a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement for independence.

During the Revolutionary War he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the treaty of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was minister to the Court of St. James's, returning to be elected Vice President under George Washington.

Adams' two terms as Vice President were frustrating experiences for a man of his vigor, intellect, and vanity. He complained to his wife Abigail, "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."

When Adams became President, the war between the French and British was causing great difficulties for the United States on the high seas and intense partisanship among contending factions within the Nation.

His administration focused on France, where the Directory, the ruling group, had refused to receive the American envoy and had suspended commercial relations.

Adams sent three commissioners to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless they would first pay a substantial bribe. Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and Z."
The Nation broke out into what Jefferson called "the X. Y. Z. fever," increased in intensity by Adams's exhortations. The populace cheered itself hoarse wherever the President appeared. Never had the Federalists been so popular.

Congress appropriated money to complete three new frigates and to build additional ships, and authorized the raising of a provisional army. It also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, intended to frighten foreign agents out of the country and to stifle the attacks of Republican editors.
President Adams did not call for a declaration of war, but hostilities began at sea. At first, American shipping was almost defenseless against French privateers, but by 1800 armed merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes.

Despite several brilliant naval victories, war fever subsided. Word came to Adams that France also had no stomach for war and would receive an envoy with respect. Long negotiations ended the quasi war.

Sending a peace mission to France brought the full fury of the Hamiltonians against Adams. In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided. Nevertheless, Adams polled only a few less electoral votes than Jefferson, who became President.

On November 1, 1800, just before the election, Adams arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in the White House. On his second evening in its damp, unfinished rooms, he wrote his wife, "Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof." Adams retired to his farm in Quincy. Here he penned his elaborate letters to Thomas Jefferson. Here on July 4, 1826, he whispered his last words: "Thomas Jefferson survives." But Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier.

Next Time; Founding Father : Thomas Jefferson

Peace,

Keith

John Adams the 2nd President and one of our Founding Fathers

In honor of Fourth of July I wanted to share this story about John Adams. Our 2nd President and one of our founding fathers of the USA.

I watching a DVD of the HBO mini series "John Adams" and I can't wait to buy the collection on DVD for my collection!

Enjoy this story!

John Adams
Biography of John Adams

The Boston massacre

"Never in more misery my whole life."

John Adams, writing in his journal, February 1771, shortly after the trial of the British soldiers.
The Boston Massacre was the act of British soldiers firing into a mob of Boston citizens. When the smoke had cleared, five citizens of the mob were dead, including Crispus Attucks. The captain of the troops was Thomas Preston. After the troops had stop firing, Captain Preston noticed a Boston citizen walking directly up to soldiers. The citizen, Benjamin Burdick told Captain Preston, "I want to see some faces that I may swear to another day." Captain Preston, realizing that there would soon be a trial, answered, "Perhaps, sir, you may."

The next morning John Adams was in his law office in Boston. The anti-British fever in Boston was rampant. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty were already calling the event the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere turned out an engraving that depicted Captain Preston ordering the troops to fire at point blank range on a defenseless crowd. To help calmed the mobs, Governor Hutchinson ordered that the soldiers arrested and promised the crowds that a trial would be held. That afternoon in Faneuil Hall a meeting of the Sons of Liberty demanded that all British must be removed from Boston.

James Forrest, a successful merchant and staunch Tory, brought a message to Adams. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Forrest explained that the message was from Captain Thomas Preston. Captain Preston was in jail and needed legal council. Forrest had spoke to several other lawyers and none of them would take the case. Captain Preston asked if Adams would take the case. Adams and another young lawyer, Josiah Quincy accepted Captain Preston request.
The soldiers faced arraignment in September. Captain Preston and his eight men pleaded innocent. Preston's men had petitioned that they were following Preston's orders and they should all be tried at one time. The court denied the petition and ordered that Captain Preston should stand trial first.

Captain Preston's trial began on October 24, 1770. By the standards of the time, the trial would be a long one. It was the first criminal trial in Massachusetts to last longer than one day! The jury selection favored the defendant. Of the fist seven jurors, only two were from Boston. The last five were all Tories. In addition to the favorable jury, the defendant had reason for hope. During the summer the thirst for blood by the town's residents had weaken.

The prosecution began its case by trying to prove that even if Captain Preston did not give the order to fire, he did have time to give the order, "Recover!" However, most of the witness testimony was confusing and conflicting. Benjamin Burdick, the citizen who took a hard look at the soldiers for this trial, admitted that he had carried a sword that evening. Burdick was prepared to cut off the head of any solider who threatened to stab him with a sword. The crown prosecutors rested their case on the second day.

John, leading the defense, called twenty-two witnesses in one day. A merchant claimed he had his hand on Preston's shoulder and did not hear Preston give the order to fire. Three black witnesses, two slaves and a freeman, gave testimony that they did hear any order to fire. They also testified that the crowd pelted the soldiers with snowballs.

After breaking for Sunday, on October 30, 1770, the jury declared a verdict of not-guilty. Preston wrote to General Gage praising the skill of his lawyers. In his diary, John Adams, noted that Captain Preston had not taken the time to thank his lawyers personally.

The trial of the soldiers began in December. Josiah Quincy wanted to put the town on trial, trying to prove that there was a premeditated plot to drive the British soldiers out of Boston. When Adams heard of this, he threatened to quit the case. Adams' threat worked, Quincy rescheduled his witnesses. Adams and Quincy were able to prevent any Boston resident from serving on this trial's jury. Quincy presented many witnesses that presented the case that soldiers acted in self defense. It was up to John Adams to offer the final summation of the case.

In disagreement with Sam Adams, John had no tolerance for any mob, even when the mob was on John's side. John tried to recreate what it was like to face the mob for those jurors that have never seen one. Adams reminded the jury that everyone who joined in an illegal assembly was guilty of every crime a mob might commit. However, he claimed that the mob on March 5 was provoked due to despotism of the government.

Adams was not finished when the court adjourned for the day at 5:00 P.M. The next morning, Adams described that the mob was "a motley rabble of saucy boys, Negroes, and mulattos, Irish teagues and outlandish jack tars...shouting and hazing and threatening life...whistling, screaming, and rending an Indian yell... throwing every species of rubbish the could pick up in the street." Adams told the jurors to put themselves in the place of the soldiers.

Robert Treat Paine summed the crown's case. It was a very uninspiring performance. The jury was out for two and a half hours before coming to a verdict. Of the eight soldiers, only two were found guilty, Matthew Kilroy and Hugh Montgomery. The next week the two soldiers were sentenced to have their thumbs branded. The soldiers were sent back to their regiment. As the regiment was set to sail to New Jersey, Hugh Montgomery confessed to his lawyers that he had shouted on that fateful night, "Damn you, fire!"

Next Time; Founding Fathers!

Peace,

Keith

Christmassed!

Christmas Eve and Day was AWESOME! I spend time with immediate and extended family, and enjoyed delicious food cooked by my Mom:)

I was especially blest this year as I received an oven prior to Christmas, as my gift from my Mom and Dad. My brothers bought me Dvds of favorite shows. My brother Scotty bought my the first season boxed set of MacQyver and I still can't get the them song out of my head, or the cheest acting for that matter:) My younger brother got me "Batman Aminated" Season 2 and "Ben 10" Season One! I enjoy cartoons very much!

I was blest most of all by giving and watched my niece Erin, nephew Quin and soon to be new member of the family Kaitlyn open gifts from Santa! They read the letters and I watched the joy on everyones face as they read!

It is good to be a member of the ROCK and take part in spreading joy and gifts to other less fortunate like the moms. dads and kids of Jefferson elementary!

I love this time of year and am anxious for the all church conferance in Lake of the Ozarks Missouri!

I almost forgot one thing! I never asked Santa why an ice monster and then a fiery beast where chasing after me when I took the Item? Those type of things are not Santa's style!

I called Santa on my cell phone and left a message since he was probably still sleeping?

For now it must remain a mystery!

Next Time! "FaithWalking"

Peace!

Keith

The ITEM?

I was flying over the Congo in a new white transforming car robot as I reflected on what Santa said about the item I took. I thought I had the perfect gift in mind, but Santa did not want me to have this. The tribesmen buckled in reverance since they thought the white robot was Santa, coming to claim the Item and hide it again!

The Item that I took from a tribe in the Congo was what I thought my enlightened mind was telling me, happened to be a bottle filled with an "Elixir of Life" that not only can cure cancer, but can cure death, meaning that anyone wo has just a drop of this could be immortal!

As I handed the Item over to the tribesmen, they were already prepared to hide it again once I left.

I was only thinking of how great a gift it would be to cure people, but not many are ready for "Immortality"! The Item is indestructible so that is why Santa could neve destroy it, so it is guarded, but it is given to certain people. Santa stated that we was given this gift when he mortal body was dying. Ever since then he traveled North and became Santa Claus!

I still needed to get gifts for Christmas, so I had to go with the fall back plan, but I was was blest to give my Nephew Quin, Niece Erin and our soon to be memeber of our Stangeland family Kaitlyn customized gifts from Santa with personalized letters form Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Santa was very busy and needed to get his shoppe in shape. Since I had so much time on my hands I fly the robot car back to the North Pole and gave Santa a helping hand:)

Next Time; Christmassed!

Peace!

Keith

Long Ride Down!

The ride was rough, mentally, but the motorbike was smooth riding! I could not beleive my eyes as I drove through the dimensions and how the grip of loneliness assaulted my mind! Without Santa's spiritual magic, I was wide open, but then I remembered! How could I forgot the power of the holy spirit? Santa and I must of been distracted by some kind of dark power for us not to remember!

I prayed as I drove and the ride was feeling like it would never end! I wondered what might be going through the minds of all the married and divorsed people as they are trapped in the dimension?

I wasn't getting any sense from the "Holy Spirit"! I was not sure what was going on? I then cried out to Jesus, and then, that was when I arrived!

Krampus 6; Greetings Keith! This time, you have no power on your side, and you can do nothing to save these people! Admit defeat!

I said nothing at first and admitted that the dimension that this Krampus was trapped in was overwhelming, but it is not "Hell" as in the biblical sense!

Krampus 6; Feel my pain!

Suddenly I witnessed what looked like phantoms, and thn I was feeling chains wrap around me, but none of these things were defeating me since I also noticed the "Holy Spirit" talking to me. He was always present, but this dimension tried to create so much noise as too drown out his words. It can not read our minds, but it can take guesses at what torments us, and deliver illusions to try weighing us down! It was at this moment that I was told exactly what to do!

Keith; Michael and Angela! You sing in a choir! Please start singing, and everyone else, please follow in singing with them!

Michael and Angela, broke their chains and followed instruction!

Krampus 6; What are you doing? No...the singing...NO...Stop!

Keith; Can't stand holy words, can ya?

The people started to follow Michael and Angela's lead and soon all were harmonizing! Whether they could sing or not, the "Holy Spirit" blest them with song, and they then sang Christmas Hymns!

Krampus 6; NO! Stop! I can't stand this!

And neither could the dimension as it started to rip open like wet paper and then all the people were in our dimension! Unfortunately, so was the Krampus!

Krampus 6; I am free, I am free at last! No longer am I trapped in Hell!

But the Krampus did not count on being infused to the dimension he was in and he started to slow fade away!

Krampus 6; NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I MUST HAVE MY REVENGE!

The Krampus grabbed me, but he quickly let go as his hands faded away.

Finally back in reality after feeling like I was in the dimension for an eternity! I was blest to know that it was not the REAL hell, or their would of been no escape! The couples were able to be transported ome by Santa's spiritual magic and I was then sent on my way to return the item that I had taken as a Christmas gift idea.

Next Time; The ITEM?

Peace!

Keith

Evil Revealed!

Krampus 6; Finally, I can escape once more, and bring about the world that my brothers and sisters tried to bring last year in the earth year of 2006! No more Santa, but my brethern and I punishing adults and children for being naughty! They will forever suffer! Santa merely has to enter this realm and I will have all the power I need!


Meanwhile back at Keith's place...

Santa; I will not be going to the Hell-Like Dimension.

Keith; What!? But Santa, how are we going to release all those people from the place?

Santa; If I step foot in that dimension, the evil presense known as the Krampus would absorb my magical power and enter this world again, but this time he could be here permenantly, and he could possibly reverse time to save his brothers and sisters from you, or I mean that blue fire alien you that destroyed them last year in 2006!

Keith; How should I do this?

Santa; If I cast any spiritual magic at this point, the Krampus will use it, so I do have something up my selve!

Santa truly did have something up his selve! It wasn't magic, but an amazing gadget that would expand on contact with air. It was a...

Santa; Dimensional Motorbike!

Keith; I never driven a motorbike, and do I need a license for this?

Santa; No! I have you fully registered, and it drives itself, because it has a robotic brain! All the magic is being pulled off of this motorbike by me, so the Krampus cannot use any of it against you!

Keith; So, I just ride this bike to Hell and back?

Santa; I can't really give you any words of advice, for that would also be applied as spiritual magic, so before you go, all spiritual magic will be pulled from you and you will be on your own....I know you can do this Keith! Oh, and by the way, one more thing.

Keith; Yes?

Santa; Return the item you took from the Congo when you return.

Keith; But that is my gift to my friends and family! You said that once I ate of the "Fruits of the Spirit" and focused on the ornament that I would know what to get them.

Santa; When did you think of this Item? Before or after you lost focus?

Keith lowers his head; After I lost focus..., but can I use just one drop of this...

Santa; NO! I am sorry to come off so harsh, but the item you chose will unbalance everything. This goes to show you that having all the "Fruits of the Spirit" at 100% will not bring you perfection!

Keith; I agree Santa! Wish me your best in that "Dark Hellish Dimension"?

Santa; I wil...I mean I cannot, it will apply spiritual magic. I am sorry Keith, but on this ride, you are all alone.


I put on the saftey helmet and activate the controls to bring me and my ride to Hell! Thanksfully it is not the real hell, but a dimension that trapped the Krampus! The solo Krampus must of stepped away from the battle last year that the "Blue Fire Alien" brought to their dimension? The explosion, as told by Santa, extermined all the Krampus. They were former Saints and Nuns that Saint Nickolas knew well, but were misguided by thinking that the world deserved "Judgement" rather than "Love"!

Krampus 6; So...Santa is wimping out and dsending his errand boy Keith in to this dimension! I will have to give him quite the reception! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Next Time; Long Ride Down!

Peace!

Keith