Documents and Discovery: Jefferson’s Letter to Washington Accepting the Position of Secretary of State

Following the ratification of the Constitution, the Continental Congress established a timetable to begin the operation of the new government. According to schedule, the States chose electors of the President on the first Wednesday in January 1789, the electors chose George Washington President and John Adams Vim President on the first Wednesday in February; and the new Congress organized and began functioning in New York City on the first Wednesday in March. In advance of his March 22, 1790, inauguration, Washington had taken steps to fill the new cabinet. He chose Thomas Jefferson as his Secretary of State. The featured document, found in the General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59, is Jefferson’s February 11, 1790, letter to President-elect Washington accepting his nomination to the position.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

1. Duplicate and distribute copies of Jefferson’s letter and the worksheet to each student, and project a transparency of the document. Advise students of the differences between handwriting and tone in the 18th century and now. Then, as a class, read the document aloud, either in unison or alternating students line by line.

2. Direct students to complete the worksheet. Once the worksheet is complete, review the document with the students, noting the purpose of the letter, the difficulties of establishing the Government, the location of the capital, and the conditions of communication and transportation during this time period.

3. Ask students to locate the places mentioned in the letter on a United States map. Have them estimate the distances between the places. Ask one or two students to investigate how much time was needed to travel Jefferson’s route in 1790 and today. Allow time for them to share their findings with the entire class, possibly sharing 18th-century illustrations of places along the route.

4. Choose a culminating activity from the following:

a. Ask students to do additional research on Jefferson and the early years of the Department of State and to write an essay explaining how Thomas Jefferson’s innovations and actions shaped the role of the Secretary of State.

b. Encourage students to study the role of Secretary of State as it has evolved. Ask them to assume the role of a contemporary individual offered that cabinet position and to write responses to the President either accepting or declining the post, giving reasons for their decisions.

c. Ask students to write essays identifying the actions they believe were most crucial to starting the new government. They should explain their reasoning.

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