Thomas Jefferson: First Inaugural Address - Analysis | Milestone Documents - Milestone Documents

Thomas Jefferson: First Inaugural Address

( 1801 ) Commentary by John P. Kaminski, University of Wisconsin—Madison

Questions for Further Study

1. Compare Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address with George Washington’s First Inaugural Address, especially their references to God.
2. Jefferson once said that in any country there are two political parties: One fears the people, the other the government. Which political party does Jefferson seem to favor in his First Inaugural Address?
3. In what ways did Jefferson try to make his First Inaugural Address conciliatory to his opponents?

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Thomas Jefferson's draft of his first inaugural address (Library of Congress)

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