Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address

Topic

Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address

Instructions

Read Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address to answer the questions below.

1. What does Thomas Jefferson say about the majority and minority opinion in the nation?
2. What does Jefferson say about religious fighting?
3. What does Jefferson have to say about free speech?
4. What do you think about Jefferson’s line “sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others”?
5. What does Jefferson say a “wise and frugal government” will do?

Answer preview

Jefferson opines that decisions in a republican government can only be made by the majority; he terms this as the best way to govern since minority decisions are by themselves evil. However, Jefferson notes that the interests of the majority should not be aimed at oppressing the minority.  The will of the people will always come first, and this can be established only through the majority being achieved as it is the basis of the laws (Jefferson, 142).

Word count: 472