Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson aimed to tackle the problem of slavery in early American society, as well as the challenges brought on by the Napoleonic Wars. He supported gradual emancipation but did not resolve the issue, contributing to further division. Additionally, the Louisiana Purchase raised questions about the expansion of slavery, reflecting the growing complexity of American political and social challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the major problems that Thomas Jefferson sought to address in early American society was the institution of slavery. At the time of the Declaration of Independence, this practice was pervasive and Jefferson himself was a slave owner. He acknowledged the incongruity between the principles of freedom and equality that he espoused and the reality of slavery. Jefferson considered slavery a "hideous blot" on the nation and hoped for gradual emancipation. Nonetheless, he and other founding fathers did not definitively resolve the issue, resulting in continued debate and division.
Another significant issue was the challenge posed by the Napoleonic Wars. Jefferson's presidency needed to navigate the international complications these wars created, which impacted American trade and neutrality. In response to these pressures, Jefferson repealed taxes for military funding and reduced the standing army, choosing to rely on militias but recognizing the need for trained officers, which led to the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1802.
Jefferson also grappled with the controversy of expansion and slavery following the Louisiana Purchase. As the nation doubled in size, the debate intensified over whether new territories should be free or slave-holding. Though Jefferson believed slavery was a temporary institution, the issue's complexity increased with the nation's growth, setting the stage for future conflicts.