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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd United States President. He was also the 2nd United States Vice President, 1st Secretary of State, the 2nd Governor of Virginia, the founder of the University of Virginia, and the author of the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson was born into a wealthy influential family in Virginia. He would become a lover of books and spend all free time reading and learning. At age 16, he would attend William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Va. Jefferson would become a well known lawyer taking only well known clients. We would also become familiar with drawing up drafts and papers for his cases.
In 1775, Jefferson would be elected to serve as a delegate from Virgina on the 2nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pa. Jefferson would soon meet and become friends with Massachusetts delegates John Adams and Samuel Adams, who seemed to be the voices of the Revolution. Congress decided to draft a declaration to let England know that America was declaring their freedom. John Adams helped lead a group of 5 delegates who would decide on how to wright this declaration. Many though Adams should write it but Adams picked Jefferson for his knowledge of drawing up drafts as a lawyer.
Over the next 17 days, Jefferson would right a copy of this declaration. When he presented it to Congress, it was read carefully. Over the next couple days, Congress would make changes to Jefferson's document, and although Jefferson did not like the changes, he thought it was for the greater good and said nothing. Almost a quarter of the writing by Jefferson was removed. On July 4, 1776, the document was ratified and signed by 56 men. The Declaration of Independence was now official and America cut off ties with England.
When Jefferson returned back to Virginia in 1776, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. There, he would set out to change Virginia's system of laws and help reform Virginia from British control to a democratic state. In his 3 years in the House, Jefferson would draft 126 bills which would establish freedom of religion and highlight a higher Judicial system for Virginia. In 1779, Jefferson would be elected as the 2nd Governor of Virginia. There, he would move the capitol from Williamsburg to Richmond. He would also start to develop an idea of higher education for all people in the state of Virginia.
In 1789, George Washington was elected our 1st President of the United States. He would ask Jefferson to take a job on his cabinet. Jefferson became the 1st Secretary of State. Jefferson would try to help Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton come up with ways to pay off the debt caused by the war. Jefferson and Hamilton had different views and ideas and would cause problems that would lead Jefferson to undermine Hamilton on many occasions causing problems with President Washington. Washington almost kicked Jefferson off the cabinet on many occasion... Jefferson, along with James Monroe, were able to form the Democratic-Republican party which would be Jefferson's biggest success on the cabinet. After 3 years, Jefferson stepped down from the cabinet leaving bitterness between him and Washington. The 2 men never spoke again.
In 1796, Jefferson would run for President against long time friend John Adams. Adams would win the election, but Jefferson would become the 2nd Vice President. As Vice President, Jefferson's only job was to see over the Senate, but was not able to contribute in discussions or debates. This would cause problems for Jefferson and Adams because Jefferson did not believe in Adams policies. It would destroy their friendship and they would not be able to reconcile it till later in life.
In 1800, Jefferson would defeat Adams becoming the 3rd President of the United States. While President, Jefferson would double the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson would buy New Orleans and the area for change but would not officially become property of the United States until Spain and England quit claiming it in President James Polk's administration. With the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson would hire explorers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis to head west looking for alternate water supplies for shipping goods out west. They were also suppose to map out the area and do scientific research in hopes to start expanding westward. Jefferson was able to open up the west and allow the United States to grow.
After his terms as President were up, Jefferson would retire to his home Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va. Jefferson's library consisted of over 6000 books. After the Library of Congress caught fire burning most of its collection, Jefferson donated his books to start the Library again. In 1825, Jefferson saw his dream come true when he was able to open the University of Virginia. He had finally started a college affordable to all people that can offer knowledge to any person willing to learn.
This statue of Thomas Jefferson is located inside the American History Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd United States President. He was also the 2nd United States Vice President, 1st Secretary of State, the 2nd Governor of Virginia, the founder of the University of Virginia, and the author of the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson was born into a wealthy influential family in Virginia. He would become a lover of books and spend all free time reading and learning. At age 16, he would attend William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Va. Jefferson would become a well known lawyer taking only well known clients. We would also become familiar with drawing up drafts and papers for his cases.
In 1775, Jefferson would be elected to serve as a delegate from Virgina on the 2nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pa. Jefferson would soon meet and become friends with Massachusetts delegates John Adams and Samuel Adams, who seemed to be the voices of the Revolution. Congress decided to draft a declaration to let England know that America was declaring their freedom. John Adams helped lead a group of 5 delegates who would decide on how to wright this declaration. Many though Adams should write it but Adams picked Jefferson for his knowledge of drawing up drafts as a lawyer.
Over the next 17 days, Jefferson would right a copy of this declaration. When he presented it to Congress, it was read carefully. Over the next couple days, Congress would make changes to Jefferson's document, and although Jefferson did not like the changes, he thought it was for the greater good and said nothing. Almost a quarter of the writing by Jefferson was removed. On July 4, 1776, the document was ratified and signed by 56 men. The Declaration of Independence was now official and America cut off ties with England.
When Jefferson returned back to Virginia in 1776, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. There, he would set out to change Virginia's system of laws and help reform Virginia from British control to a democratic state. In his 3 years in the House, Jefferson would draft 126 bills which would establish freedom of religion and highlight a higher Judicial system for Virginia. In 1779, Jefferson would be elected as the 2nd Governor of Virginia. There, he would move the capitol from Williamsburg to Richmond. He would also start to develop an idea of higher education for all people in the state of Virginia.
In 1789, George Washington was elected our 1st President of the United States. He would ask Jefferson to take a job on his cabinet. Jefferson became the 1st Secretary of State. Jefferson would try to help Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton come up with ways to pay off the debt caused by the war. Jefferson and Hamilton had different views and ideas and would cause problems that would lead Jefferson to undermine Hamilton on many occasions causing problems with President Washington. Washington almost kicked Jefferson off the cabinet on many occasion... Jefferson, along with James Monroe, were able to form the Democratic-Republican party which would be Jefferson's biggest success on the cabinet. After 3 years, Jefferson stepped down from the cabinet leaving bitterness between him and Washington. The 2 men never spoke again.
In 1796, Jefferson would run for President against long time friend John Adams. Adams would win the election, but Jefferson would become the 2nd Vice President. As Vice President, Jefferson's only job was to see over the Senate, but was not able to contribute in discussions or debates. This would cause problems for Jefferson and Adams because Jefferson did not believe in Adams policies. It would destroy their friendship and they would not be able to reconcile it till later in life.
In 1800, Jefferson would defeat Adams becoming the 3rd President of the United States. While President, Jefferson would double the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson would buy New Orleans and the area for change but would not officially become property of the United States until Spain and England quit claiming it in President James Polk's administration. With the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson would hire explorers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis to head west looking for alternate water supplies for shipping goods out west. They were also suppose to map out the area and do scientific research in hopes to start expanding westward. Jefferson was able to open up the west and allow the United States to grow.
After his terms as President were up, Jefferson would retire to his home Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va. Jefferson's library consisted of over 6000 books. After the Library of Congress caught fire burning most of its collection, Jefferson donated his books to start the Library again. In 1825, Jefferson saw his dream come true when he was able to open the University of Virginia. He had finally started a college affordable to all people that can offer knowledge to any person willing to learn.
This statue of Thomas Jefferson is located inside the American History Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.