Jefferson's First
Inaugural Address

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Manuscript draft of first inaugural address,
1801
Manuscript Division

Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as the third president of the United States on March 4, 1801, after being elected in one of the nation's closest presidential contests. In this, his first inaugural address, Jefferson sought to reach out to his political opponents and heal the breach between Federalists and Republicans. Strongly criticized as a deist or even an atheist, Jefferson strongly stated his belief in the importance of religion in the address. He closes the speech listing the "freedom of religion" prominently among the constitutional freedoms.