The third president of the United States, a contributing member of the continental congress and Virginia legislature, a founding father, and the author of the Declaration of Independence. These are a few of the names that can be used to describe Thomas Jefferson. Many argue that without Jefferson, the United States of America would not be shaped the same way as it is today.
Son of Peter and Jane Randolph Jefferson, Thomas was born on April 13, 1743 at Shadwell, which is a very large plantation. His father worked as a planter and surveyor and his mother came from one of Virginia’s most prominent families. His experience as a child was not one ridden with poverty. Thomas Jefferson was the third child, having six sisters and a younger brother. When Thomas was 14 his father Peter passed away. This left him with the Shadwell property. Thomas had to step up as the head of the family, but luckily a family friend helped out allowing Thomas to continue his education.
Education always played an important role in the life of Thomas Jefferson. He had a profound interest in Greek and Latin in his younger years and preferred to focus primarily on the ideal of statesmen. This was due to the ways that the Greeks and Romans viewed politics. This stated that politics meant that one could be a free citizen and that it was every man’s responsibility to participate in them. Jefferson went to William and Mary and he loved to study. Another hobby of his was playing the violin when he was not busy studying. Jefferson then began to study law under a well-respected Virginia attorney giving him a background in politics. Jefferson’s education and background in law proved to be very vital for him during the Revolution and his later years.
A very important part of Thomas Jefferson’s life was Monticello. This name means “little mountain” in Italian. This was a 5,000-acre property that Jefferson inherited after the passing of his father. Throughout his years Jefferson loved Monticello. In 1770 Monticello burnt down but was later built again for Jefferson. Jefferson built Monticello from scratch and designed it himself. This was where him and his wife Martha lived. Jefferson had six children with Martha and he loved her dearly. However when she passed away in 1782 at the age of 33 Jefferson was absolutely distraught. He made a promise to Martha that he would never marry again and he fulfilled that promise.
By the time the rebellion was beginning to rise Jefferson had background as a lawyer that he worked as in the year 1767. Later he worked in the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1769 to 1775. In 1774 he started to gain recognition after publishing the pamphlet A Summary View of the Rights of British America. It was in this pamphlet that Jefferson expressed his feelings about the way the colonies were being ruled under the crown. In the document Jefferson states, “in order that these our rights, as well as the invasions of them, may be laid more fully before his majesty, to take a view of them from the origin and first settlement of these countries” (Jefferson, 1). Here, Jefferson emphasizes the way he feels that the British are treating the colonies, and to him that is unfair and in a tyrannical manner. He then makes a statement that regards the unfair laws that Britain was putting on America’s trade therefore hurting the economy. “That the exercise of a free trade with all parts of the world, possessed by the American colonists, as of natural right, and which no law of their own had taken away or abridged, was the next object of unjust encroachment” (Jefferson, 2). Here Jefferson states that he believes that there should be no laws put on the colonies to limit their trade. He believes they have the right to free trade with other countries and that the British cannot take it away. Jefferson states, “That these are the acts of power, assumed by a body of men, foreign to our constitutions, and unacknowledged by our laws…” (Jefferson, 4). Thomas Jefferson here is working to draw rebellion out of the Virginia Legislature. He appears fed up with all of the breaches that the British are making on them and a fire of passion against them is inside him. Jefferson sees that what the British monarchs are doing is incorrect. Although this document only got presented to the Virginia Legislature and never made it to the colonies, it was still published as a form of propaganda against the British and gained Jefferson a well respected pre-revolution reputation.
During the Revolution, Jefferson knew the risks of being associated as a high political power of the colonies. Once the revolution started Jefferson was a part of the Second Continental Congress while being only 33 years old. He was never a great speaker but Jefferson could write. That is one of the main reasons that he was asked to draft the Declaration of Independence. This committee included Benjamin Franklin and John Adams but the other members wanted Jefferson to be the main author. The biography American Sphinx The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis explains the risk that Jefferson took in this statement and showed a true display of the fiery patriotism in Jefferson, “No serious student of either Jefferson or the Declaration of Independence has ever claimed that he foresaw all or even most of the ideological consequences of what he wrote” (Ellis, 64). Jefferson knew what was on the line and also the risk that came with it, but he was willing to give his all for his country even if it meant death. Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of what he believes every human being has the right to, he stated it as follows, “… that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”(Jefferson, 1). The colonists believed that under the crown they were not being given these rights so Jefferson taking inspiration from some of the enlightenment writers including John Locke wrote that statement that lasts as a basis for modern government to this day. Jefferson went on to finish the Declaration of Independence and it was signed on July 4th, 1776. The war raged on and Jefferson gained a political following because of this document. Through this document Jefferson became a founding father and one of the most important revolutionary figures.
After the war Jefferson took over for Benjamin Franklin as a minister for France. During this time he wrote the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. In 1786 this document was adopted after being written in 1777. This document showcases how strongly Jefferson believed in religious freedom to the point where he presented it to the Virginia General Assembly in hope for the colonies including Virginia to support the practice of free religion. This was especially shown in the statement, “… who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his Almighty power to do; that the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others…” (Jefferson,1). Here Jefferson expresses his view that he believes every person should have the right to their own beliefs and that no one should coerce the belief of something else in the mind of anyone against their will. He also states, “… that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship…” (Jefferson,1). Jefferson believes that religion is a man’s will and they shall not be required to worship just to please the well of others.
Later on in Jefferson’s life he continued to perform many more significant acts adding to his already tremendous legacy. In 1789 George Washington called upon Jefferson to become the first secretary of state, a job he accepted. He often clashed with Alexander Hamilton, which led to him co-founding the Democratic and Republic party so that he could oppose Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist party. In 1796 Jefferson ran for President but finished second only to John Adams, he would go on to become the vice president after receiving the second highest number of votes. Later in 1800 Jefferson ran again and won. He was sworn into office on March 4th, 1801. Marked as a huge achievement of his, Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France for a price of 15 million dollars acquiring 800,000 square feet of land. Jefferson after his term was up in 1804 ran for reelection and won against the Federalist Candidate Charles Pinckney. Jefferson attempted to keep the United States out of the European’s Napoleonic Wars but in 1812 the US went to war against the British. In 1808 however Jefferson chose to not run for a third term and instead decided to spend his years at Monticello. He pursued many hobbies while here such as architecture, gardening, reading, and music. He also founded the University of Virginia, which opened its doors in 1825. Similar to his thoughts on worship the school did not have any religious affiliation.
Jefferson later passed away at Monticello on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th 1826 while aged 83. He shared the same date of death as his friend John Adams. Jefferson now has a monument in Washington D.C., his face on the nickel, and carved into Mount Rushmore. Due to all of his accomplishments Jefferson still remains an American icon and hero today.
Bibliography
"Thomas Jefferson: A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)." American Government, ABC-CLIO, 2018, americangovernment.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/210508. Accessed 16 Feb. 2018.
"Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786)." American Government, ABC-CLIO, 2018, americangovernment.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/210938. Accessed 22 Feb. 2018.
"Declaration of Independence (1776)." American Government, ABC-CLIO, 2018, americangovernment.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/210295. Accessed 30 Apr. 2018.
Ellis, Joseph. American Sphinx The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 1996.