Question

How was Jefferson’s agrarian vision reflected in his policies affecting western lands?

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson the third president of the United States had a deep appreciation of farming classifying it as one of the most virtuous and meaningful human activities. He envisioned an America composed of all independent farmers, unlike the supposedly corrupted industrialized nations in Europe. According to him this could be achieved by promoting westward expansions and expeditions his ideology can be reflected in his policies regarding western lands. In 1784 he drafted the Land Ordinance of 1784, facilitating the incorporation of territories west of the Appalachian Mountains. Authorizing the Louisiana purchase,adding about 828,000 of square miles to the US territory in 1803. Establishing the land law of 1800 reducing considerably and constantly the minimum individual purchase of land in the West and the price of said land. Gave hard working farmers the chance to land at reasonable prices.