Thomas Jefferson

Dates:

1649: English Revolution

1651: Hobbs write “Leviathan”

1688: Glorious Revolution – end of absolute rule of monarchy; becomes a constitutional monarchy.

1689: Locke

1785 : American Revolution

1789 : French Revolution

Liberalism

· Freedom

· Democracy

· Protection of property

Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)

1743 - Born into a wealthy slave owning Virginia plantation owning family with aristocratic origin.

1760 – Studies Law

1769 – Elected to colonial legislature in Virginia

1772 – Marries Martha Skelton

1775 – Appointed to Second Continental Congress

1776 – Drafts the Declaration of Independence

1779 – Elected Governor of Virginia

1782 – Martha Jefferson dies

1783 – The American War of Independence ends, elected to Congress

1785 – 1789 US Minister to France

1786 – 1789 Shay’s rebellion

1787 – American Constitution adopted

1789 – French Revolution

1791 – 1802 Haitian Revolution

1795 – First child with Sally Hemings

1803 – Louisiana Purchase more than doubles the size of the USA

1796 – Elected as Vice-President

1801 – Elected as President (serves two terms concluding in 1809)

1804 – Haitian Revolution

1826

Key questions for week 1

1. Should we be rules via democracy or despotism (and if there is democracy must it be representative, or direct; and who is included in)

2. Is there a right to rebel (and if so is that a permanent right; and who is included in the right to rebel)?

3. Should we maintain the world as a series of commons or enclose it as private property (and if we see benefit in private property the must there some redistribution through taxation; and who should be able to be part of the commons, or to own private property, or to benefit from redistribution).