Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, did not attend the Constitutional Convention because he was in Paris, serving as the American ambassador to France. However, his absence does not imply that he was disinterested in the struggle to write the Constitution or in the final product. On December 20, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote this letter to James Madison, the often-described Father of the U.S. Constitution. In the letter, he describes what he likes (e.g., separation of powers, taxation powers to Congress, veto power to the president) and what he dislikes (e.g., omission of a Bill of Rights, the direct election of the president, and, most importantly, the impression that the Constitution creates, in his words, "a very energetic government"). By the end, it is clear that Thomas Jefferson is not a fan of...