Thomas Jefferson's Childhood and Adulthood Bibliography

894 Words2 Pages

As the crafter of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson is widely viewed as the creator of America. His vision of human rights forms the basis for the Declaration, and his early years formed his vision of the world. By looking at Jefferson’s childhood and early adulthood we can learn what shaped the man who shaped America.
Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia on April 13, 1743 (Miller, 13) and was the oldest son of a family with 8 children (Jefferson, 4). His father, Peter, had little formal education but self educated himself to the point that he was selected to create the first map of Virginia (Jefferson 3). Although his father passed away when Thomas was 14 (Brodie, 38) the desire to learn had already been passed down from father to son (Brodie, 35). Thomas began his formal education at age five, being tutored at “the English school” on the plantation where he lived (Brodie, 49). At age nine he was sent to another school and began learning languages, although he was dismissive of his teacher’s abilities (Jefferson, 4). His father also insisted that Thomas be comfortable in the wilderness around the family home, encouraging him to ride horses, hike, swim and hunt (Brodie, 35).
After his father’s death Jefferson began meeting men who would influence him for the rest of his life. He studied classical languages and history under the Reverend James Maury; a foundation that allowed him to read classical literature his entire life (Miller, 14). He then went on to William and Mary College in 1760, where he studied under Dr William Small, a man who influenced young Thomas Jefferson so strongly that Jefferson later stated he “fixed the destinies of my life” (Jefferson, 4). Dr Small introduced Jefferson to George ...

... middle of paper ...

... of his views are so well laid out in the Declaration of Independence that it is easy to look at that document as a standalone work, but it should be viewed for what it is. The Declaration of Independence is a culmination of Thomas Jefferson’s life and experiences which have shaped America like nothing else could.

Works Cited

Brodie, Fawn M. Thomas Jefferson An Intimate History. New York: W.W. Norton and Company Inc., 1974. Print.

Burstein, Andrew. The Inner Jefferson Portrait of a Grieving Optimist. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1995. Print.

Jefferson, Thomas. Jefferson Autobiography, Notes on the State of Virginia, Public and Private Papers, Addresses, Letters. New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984. Print.

Miller, Douglas T. Thomas Jefferson and the Creation of America. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1997. Print.

Open Document