What is the Secretary of State?
Created in 1789, the Secretary of State, along with the State Department, oversees relations between the United States and other foreign nations. What the Secretary of State does specifically has not changed much in the past 240 years, but it has become far more complex as international commitments multiplied. A couple of the main jobs that the Secretary of State has includes: serving as the President's head adviser on issues with other nations, conducting negotiations and treaties with foreign powers, and promoting trade and cooperation between the United States and other countries.
What is Jefferson's Background?
Born in 1743, Jefferson, like Washington, was a tall redhead from the middling planter class. After attending William and Mary and studying law, he served in local government. Jefferson considered himself a farmer and spent his life improving his plantations, especially Monticello, just as Washington cared for Mount Vernon. But it was in his devotion to the cause of the American Revolution that Jefferson most resembled Washington. As a member of the Continental Congress, Jefferson was recognized for his brilliant writing, most notably in his authorship of the Declaration of Independence. He later served in Virginia's assembly. In 1784, he was appointed ambassador to France. Jefferson returned to the United States in November 1789 to become Secretary of State under George Washington.
When did Jefferson serve?
Thomas Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State from March 22, 1790, to December 31, 1793.
What skills did Jefferson bring to the job?
During the Revolutionary War and Continental Congress, Jefferson was appointed the ambassador to France. Jefferson spent many months in Europe, gaining friendships and becoming an expert in foreign affairs. While ambassador to France, he also negotiated a commercial treaty with Prussia (1785). Jefferson brought this experience and expertise to the role of Secretary of State. He successfully balanced the new country’s relatively weak international position with his desire for U.S. territorial and commercial expansion. However, as Secretary of State, Jefferson’s approach to foreign affairs was limited by Washington’s preference for neutrality in regards to foreign wars. Jefferson favored, instead, closer ties to France, who had supported the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Created in 1789, the Secretary of State, along with the State Department, oversees relations between the United States and other foreign nations. What the Secretary of State does specifically has not changed much in the past 240 years, but it has become far more complex as international commitments multiplied. A couple of the main jobs that the Secretary of State has includes: serving as the President's head adviser on issues with other nations, conducting negotiations and treaties with foreign powers, and promoting trade and cooperation between the United States and other countries.
What is Jefferson's Background?
Born in 1743, Jefferson, like Washington, was a tall redhead from the middling planter class. After attending William and Mary and studying law, he served in local government. Jefferson considered himself a farmer and spent his life improving his plantations, especially Monticello, just as Washington cared for Mount Vernon. But it was in his devotion to the cause of the American Revolution that Jefferson most resembled Washington. As a member of the Continental Congress, Jefferson was recognized for his brilliant writing, most notably in his authorship of the Declaration of Independence. He later served in Virginia's assembly. In 1784, he was appointed ambassador to France. Jefferson returned to the United States in November 1789 to become Secretary of State under George Washington.
When did Jefferson serve?
Thomas Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State from March 22, 1790, to December 31, 1793.
What skills did Jefferson bring to the job?
During the Revolutionary War and Continental Congress, Jefferson was appointed the ambassador to France. Jefferson spent many months in Europe, gaining friendships and becoming an expert in foreign affairs. While ambassador to France, he also negotiated a commercial treaty with Prussia (1785). Jefferson brought this experience and expertise to the role of Secretary of State. He successfully balanced the new country’s relatively weak international position with his desire for U.S. territorial and commercial expansion. However, as Secretary of State, Jefferson’s approach to foreign affairs was limited by Washington’s preference for neutrality in regards to foreign wars. Jefferson favored, instead, closer ties to France, who had supported the United States during the Revolutionary War.