As the “silent member” of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786. Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France in 1785.
Jefferson recognized that a stronger federal government would make the country more secure economically and militarily, but he feared that a strong central government might become too powerful, restricting citizens' rights.
How did Jefferson simplify the federal government? Jefferson simplified the government by cutting costs, reducing the size of the army, lowering expenses for government and social funding.
Jefferson wanted to reduce government power by cutting the federal budget and by reducing the federal debt. He decreased the size of government departments and cut the federal budget. With the approval of congress he reduced the size of the army and navy. He also asked Congress to repeal the unpopular whiskey tax.