Preview

Thomas Jefferson vs. Martin Luther King Jr.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
579 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thomas Jefferson vs. Martin Luther King Jr.
Thomas Jefferson vs. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thomas Jefferson was born in April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He is known as Author of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd president of the United States. He was a farmer and became a lawyer in 1776. He had served as president for two terms 1801-1809; served as vice president, secretary of state, congressman, governor of Virginia, and minister to France; he was the founder of the University of Virginia; he also served as president of the American Philosophical Society. Jefferson’s political career began in 1769 when he was elected for Virginia’s House of Burgesses.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is known as the civil rights leader who said “I have a dream”. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African-American leader who supported social changes through nonviolent means. He had great spiritual strength and was a powerful speaker. As a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, at Boston University and at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, he had deepened his understanding of theological scholarship and of Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent strategy for social change. He was pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama form 1954-1959. In 1963 he was helping organize the March on Washington, he had gathered more than 200,000 protestors at which he made his famous speech “I have a Dream”. After a nonviolent protest against racial discrimination he had addressed a “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to his fellow clergyman.
Thomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King Jr. are two American men that were key leaders during very controversial periods in U.S. history, and they were instrumental in movements that forever changed American society. Although their generations, cultures, backgrounds, and motives were quite different, their cause was relatively the same. It was a cause that stood against injustice, oppression, and sought the freedom of all men. Their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America, was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. Thomas was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington DC and was also one of the first presidents to go to college. Thomas was one of the founding fathers of the United States. He was also one of the many authors for the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was a big step for America. He ran for president in the 1800s and he was elected in 1801, which he served a total of two terms, which later on ended on 1809. (Wikipedia)…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Malcom vs. Dr. King

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the 1960’s two great African American leaders arose, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Dr. King was a pacifist, following the tradition of Gandhi. Malcolm X however was a radical, an advocate for violence. Both, however, shared a common goal—REAL freedom and justice for the African American people.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson through his life, his experiences have changed his view to suit what he believes is best for America. Jefferson grew up in a wealthy family and grew with a positive view of the people. He served as a Virginia delegate and as a Virginia state legislature member. Then, he was an author of the Declaration of Independence to create the new nation of America. Later, he became part of Washington’s cabinet as Secretary of State and served as a U.S. Minister to France. Through his political background, he grew skills to help hone his vision on how…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Former President Thomas Jefferson was a true role model to the American people during his time. He provided the governed people an incredible amount of hope, prosperity, and dignity. He fought for the British Colonies ' independence, for certain unalienable rights, and for the prohibition of slavery. Serving as the author of the Declaration of Independence as well as holding numerous political offices nationwide, Jefferson is a prime example of what we call today a “founding father.” Indubitably one of the most influential politicians in American history, he is still studied today as a symbol of America 's birth and a good model for true democracy. He is an icon that almost every American knows. Through countless monuments as well as the insignia on United States nickel coinage, Jefferson remains well-respected for his morality, diligence, and passion which helped to sculpt the integrity of our government, and is still recognized for the incredible feat.…

    • 2516 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    For many years, Martin Luther King went around the South and other parts of the United States giving speeches about civil rights and leading protests against unfair laws. In 1963, he led a march in Washington D.C. with over 200,000 people. It was here that he gave his famous "I have a dream" speech in which he said that people should not be judged by the color of their skin.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This biography is about Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was a remarkable person. He is famous for writing the Declaration of Independence and for being the third president of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was also a gardener, father, designer, and thinker, who believed in the rights of men. Early Years Thomas Jefferson’s early years helped shape his life. He was also born April 13, 1743 at Shadwell, VA he died July 4, 1826 at Monticello, VA.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson was one of the most prominent figures during the formation of The United States. He was well grounded with the people and advocated strongly for the rights of the many over the rights of the few. Even though Thomas Jefferson was grounded in aristocracy, he was a strong advocate for the rights of the common people.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King is best known for advancing the Civil Rights Movement and his “I Have a Dream” speech. Martin started his college education at age 15. In the United States, there are more the 720 streets named after Martin Luther King. In 1963, King helped organize the “March on Washington.” More 250,000 people attended the march in an effort to show the importance in civil rights legislation. It was at the “March on Washington” that Martin gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. That speech has become one of the most famous speeches in history. The Civil Rights Act was passed a year later in 1964. King only hoped the America and the world could become a colorblind society where…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Thomas Jefferson, born on 13th April, 1743 in Shadwell Virginia, Albemarle County, began his formal education at age nine, studied at William and Mary College and then began to read law. He married Martha Wayles in 1772, and took her to stay in his Mountaintop home, Monticello (http://www.pbs.org/jefferson). He died on July 4, 1826 in Virginia, Monticello. Jefferson draws my attention in this research due to his powerful advocacy of liberty in the early years of the United States. He effectively held leadership positions and controversies in the government of the United States (http://www.pbs.org/jefferson). This paper provides a detailed research about Thomas Jefferson. He attained many achievements in his lifetime, in…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Firstly Thomas Jefferson was America’s 3rd US president. Jefferson was born on April 13th 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. Jefferson had a rough childhood spending most of his time juggerling being the man of the house after his father died and studying to become the great leader his known as today.…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    mlk paper

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. lost his life trying to better the lives of African-American people. He was one of the greatest American Civil Rights leaders of the 1960s. He was born in 1929 in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King once said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." This saying rang bells towards the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the near, listening ears of people who wanted change. August 28, 1963, marked the day when Martin Luther King Jr. had changed more than just Washington. More than America. He had envisioned a life where everyone would be considered equal, and everyone would prosper. He had begun to change the universe. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech “I Have a Dream”, is a speech that will be remembered forever in history. Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary man. He spoke of non-violent ways to create a society of equality that stirred many people's hearts. When King spoke, he reached people's hearts and minds at the same time. He dug down deep into issues of racial discrimination and presented alternatives of love and equality. Racists struck down his ideas, but others were moved and worked to better society as he wished. King was a loving man, one that wished people would listen and follow him but he did not force them. If King were still alive, more people would have been moved and maybe certain discriminative qualities all over America would have evaporated sooner. People try to say that discrimination is over and no one has been prejudice since the Civil Rights Movement, but they are so wrong. Still today stories over the news can be heard of people killing others unjustly, whether it is from race or pure hatred. Recently, President Obama has spoken on trying to eliminate hate crimes in certain states, and just because the president has to do this means…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was an American founding father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States. At the beginning of the American Revolution, he served in the Continental congress, representing Virginia and then served as a wartime Governor of Virginia. Just after the war ended, from mid-1784 Jefferson served as a diplomat, stationed in Paris. In May 1785, he became the United States Minister to France. Jefferson was the first United States Secretary of State serving under President George Washington. With his close friend James Madison he organized the Democratic- Republican party, and subsequently resigned from Washington's cabinet. Elected Vice President in 1796, when he came in second to John Adams of the federalist, Jefferson opposed Adams and with Madison secretly wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which attempted to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts. Elected president in what Jefferson called the Revolution of 1800, he oversaw the purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory from France, and sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the new west. His second term was beset with troubles at home, such as the failed treason trial of his former Vice President Aaron Burr. With escalating trouble with Britain who was challenging American neutrality and threatening shipping at sea, he tried economic warfare with his embargo laws which only damaged American trade. In 1803, President Jefferson initiated a process of Indian tribal removal and relocation to the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi River, in order to open lands for eventual American settlers. A leader in the Enlightment, Jefferson was a polymath who spoke five languages fluently and was deeply interested in science, invention, architecture, religion and philosophy, interests that led him to the founding of the University of Virginia after his presidency. He designed his own large mansion on a 5,000 acre…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15th 1929. He was a pastor, activist and the prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement and is often presented as a heroic leader in the history of modern American liberalism. He is most famous for his speech called “I have a dream”. It is about not being segregated or discriminated against and to have equal rights between white and black people. It is now recognised as one of the greatest speeches in history.…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln both helped tremendously as civil rights leaders. The civil rights movement took place in the 1950s and 1960s. The civil rights movement gave blacks equal rights under law in the United States (“Civil Rights Movement - Black History - HISTORY.com,” n.d.). Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln were both great civil rights leaders. In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize (Rappaport, 2001). Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States (“Abraham Lincoln - U.S. Presidents - HISTORY.com,” n.d.).…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    King and Lincoln had education. Not only did Abraham Lincoln teach himself how to be a lawyer, but a legislature also(6). Dr. King had gone to college to get a doctorate in systematic theology. These men had wanted all equality for African-Americans(2). Martin Luther King started a Poor People’s Campaign(1). For all of his work and speeches, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize(2). President Lincoln led the Union through the civil war(5). Unfortunately, both King and Lincoln had been shot in April, only one hundred three years apart(1)(4). On May 30, 1922, Abraham had a memorial dedicated to him(6). King had a holiday dedicated towards his achievements in 1983(1). Martin Luther King Jr. and Lincoln’s life impacted so many people that holidays and memorials were created in honor of those great men in American history.…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays