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the significance of the Declaration of Independence
the significance of the Declaration of Independence
the significance of the Declaration of Independence
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Thomas Jefferson was who authored extraordinary words and it was there words that changed a nation. Jefferson’s ability to write made him prominent author of write the Declaration of Independence, (among other significant works). Jefferson’s writings reflected on the rights of mankind and what rights a government must offer its people. His use of words to fight for Human rights makes him one of the greatest American Hero’s. Thomas Jefferson’s writings on basic human rights caused a radical shift in American Colonist thoughts and these stunning ideas would influence the Americans to break away from Great Britain. “As a boy, Thomas Jefferson’s was shy and often tongue-tied…Preferred the company of books to that of most people.” (Wilmore, 1) These were words to describe the young Jefferson; his childhood would prove to be a key in shaping the man, who through his words would change a nation. Jefferson was born on April 13th 1743, in Shadwell Virginia. During his childhood he would spend 15 hours each day reading and writing, this would prove to make his writing skills at a high level (1). As he grew into an adult he would study law in his home of Virginia at the William and Mary College at Williamsburg (Bottorff, 15). During this time he would become a member of the Whig party and would advocate for the rights and liberties of mankind (Peterson, 1). It was in his childhood and as turned into an adult which he learned how to write and how to express his political views through words. “For Thomas Jefferson, the pen truly was mightier than the sword. From his pen flowed some of the worlds most famous and influential words.” (Wilmore, 1) Truer words could not have been spoken about Jefferson’s because it was through his words which adv... ... middle of paper ... ...ut Jefferson, who was by then gone.” His death on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was a mystery of fate or could just be a coincidental (Bottorff, 118). Also Adams, whom rekindled his friendship with Jefferson after it had been broken by political difference, died on the same die within hours of each other (117). Jefferson’s last writings was for his grave stone, which said “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson. Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, And Father of the University of Virginia. Born Apr. 1, 1743 O.S. Died July 4, 1826.”(Donovan, 296) This were Jefferson’s greatest achievements in his eyes, he saw his fight for natural rights in his life to be the most important thing in his life. His fight for natural rights made him one of America’s greatest hero’s.
Thomas Jefferson has an amazing role in our lives today from the hard work and time he spent to make an easier future for all of us. There are days that some of us could not thrive as the people we are without the appliances he made to make challenging tasks easier for us. Some people look up to him because he never stopped doing great things and never stopped showing unselfishness. Thomas Jefferson revolutionized the world of the 18th century and centuries to come. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most influential people of the 18th century because he was one of the founding fathers of America, he was the founder of the University of Virginia, and he was the creator of many life changing inventions, which drastically changed the world.
Thomas Jefferson was an educated, articulate and accomplished man from a well-respected family. He had a great understanding of farming and of the relationship between man and his environment, working diligently to balance the two for the best interest of each. He “considered himself first and always a man of the land” (Jewett, 2005). His vision of the New World was of true, idealistic freedom with limited government involvement; an educated farmer, a moral man who would sustain himself off of the very land his freedom was based.
It would seem that a document written so long ago would not have a very large impact on our way of life now, but it was, and is, a basis on which our development as a democratic nation has been equated. If we were to influence our life now based on the text it would be important to look back into the past of the United States of America and read the document in context; develop an understanding of the intended audience. King George had been the announced audience, but the common people, in both the Colonies and in other countries, were an even more important audience. With this, Jefferson altered the mechanisms on which his message was delivered to make the Declaration of Independence far more accessible.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, author of the Declaration of Independence, was born on April 13, 1743 and grew up on the family plantation at Shadwell in Albermarle County, Virginia. His father was Peter Jefferson, who, with the aid of thirty slaves, tilled a tobacco and wheat farm of 1,900 acres and like his fathers before him, was a justice of the peace, a vestryman of his parish and a member of the colonial legislature. The first of the Virginia Jefferson's of Welsh extraction, Peter in 1738 married Jane Randolph. Of their ten children, Thomas was the third. Thomas inherited a full measure of his father's bodily strength and stature, both having been esteemed in their prime as the strongest men of their county. He also inherited his father's inclination to liberal politics, his taste for literature and his aptitude for mathematics. The Jefferson's were a musical family; the girls sang the songs of the time, and Thomas, practicing the violin assiduously from boyhood, became an excellent performer.
There are many specific events that take place in “Thomas Jefferson’s America 1801” that persuade the readers to think that the United States would not be what it is today without Thomas Jefferson. For example, the event where Jefferson saw a hot air balloon flying in the air got part of Ambrose’s purpose across. Ambrose states, “With regard to travel by air, Jefferson was a full century ahead of the curve” (53). This quote proves that Ambrose used events to persuade readers to think that the United States would not be what it is today without JeffersonAmbrose persuades readers to think that
The American Revolution, perhaps the most momentous war-related milestone in American history, would not have been possible without the strenuous efforts of the courageous men we call Patriots or otherwise known as the Founding Fathers of America, who gave their all in the fight for freedom against the British. Many names of great men come to mind when we think “founding fathers,” such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, or Samuel Adams. Yet there is still one great patriot and founding father who seems to stand out above the rest, and that man is Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson is widely known as being the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase that bought more than 20% of the U.S. However, what most people seem to overlook is his vast knowledge of mathematics and science, and his strong position and belief in Republicanism.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence for the American colonists to proclaim freedom from Great Britain's oppressor, King George III. American colonists had been suffering for many years when this important document was drafted. King George III had pushed the colonists into a state of tyranny and most decided it was time to start an independent nation under a different type of government. Jefferson focused his piece toward many audiences. He wanted not only King George III and the British Parliament to know the American's feelings, but also the entire world. The time had come for an immense change amongst the American colonists and Jefferson made sure everyone was aware of it by using his superior strategies of persuasion.
Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Virginia (Jefferson 1080). “Jefferson opened with the Declaration of Independence are among the most well known, powerful, and charged in the common historical and literary vocabulary of the united states (Jefferson 1080).” Thomas Jefferson believed “ we hold these truths to be self-evident”; “all men are created equal (Jefferson 1080).” He quoted this in the draft of the declaration of independence. He believed every man should be equal to each other. Jefferson was a very successful man as he wrote many different things the first was “A summary view of the rights of British America (1774) (Jefferson 1080).” That pamphlet showed how important he was as a political thinker and writer and brought him much attention of people beyond Virginia (Jefferson 1080). “Jefferson considered it society’s responsibility to identify intellectually gifted individuals and cultivate their talents, “which nature has sown as liberally among the poor and the rich” (Jefferson 1081).” He believes that people should be found based on them-selves not through others help. “Jefferson was a strong supporter of an agrarian-based economy in he United States that was built upon a class of small farmers with the individual ideals of civic responsibility, education, and religious freedom (Jefferson 1081).” Jefferson was the one that cared more about the one to one person
Thought of as a true American hero from the positive actions he had on society, author of the Declaration of Independence, true believer to live by the Bible, Thomas Jefferson; hopeful to change the world for better, took on presidency in March 1801. All creditable titles go to show how dedicated Thomas Jefferson was in creating his vision of a better world he so desired, as many present day presidential candidates create now and share with the voters.
President Thomas Jefferson 1801 - 1809. Thomas Jefferson came into presidency with the intention of limiting the size and power of the central government. His success and failures in accomplishing this goal were many. Thomas Jefferson was America’s third president in reign from 1801 – 1809, once tying in the presidential race with Aaron Burr, where the decision was made by the House of Representatives to choose Jefferson, whom they thought was less dangerous than Burr. As president he was the first to be inaugurated in Washington, which was a city he had helped to plan. President Jefferson's inauguration was probably the start of the changes in government.
In addition to being where Jefferson’s career began, the House of Burgesses was where the voting took place for the state of Virginia. It was also “. . . the first democratically-elected legislative body in the British American colonies,” (Kimberly 2015). This membership was the start of something great for Jefferson and held the potential for a great writing career. According to History.com (2009), a website encompassing a plethora of information on Thomas Jefferson’s life and his importance during the Revolutionary War, “As a member of colonial Virginia’s House of Burgesses from 1769 to 1775, Jefferson, who was known for his reserved manner, gained recognition for penning a pamphlet. . .” Jefferson’s writing of this pamphlet was a major factor in what determined his membership in the 2nd Continental Congress. According to the Virginia Historical Society, “. . . Jefferson sent a paper to the convention, later published as A Summary View of the Rights of British America. The force of its arguments and its literary quality led the Convention to elect Jefferson to serve in the Continental Congress.” Jefferson’s experience and work in the House of Burgesses led to his initial fame as a Founding Father because of his future involvement in both the Virginia Legislature and the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary
Wilentz, Sean. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Thomas Jefferson." The New Republic Mar 10 1997: 32-42. ProQuest. Web. 17 Jan. 2014 .
...July 11, 1804, they shot on each other on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. Hamilton was fatally injured so he died the next afternoon (Famous People).
On December 12, 1799 George Washington went on his daily horseback ride around Mount Vernon. It was snowing and then began raining. When he came home from his ride he ate dinner before changing out of his wet clothes. Between 2:00 A.M. and 3:00 A.M. December 14, he woke up with a sore throat but would not let his wife call for a doctor until dawn. By the late afternoon, Washington had been examined by four doctors. They could not provide any help, and George Washington finally died around 10 P.M., December 14, 1799.
At the start of the American Revolution, Jefferson had a strong opinion against the British rules and taxes, and for the freedom of the colonies. Jefferson’s thoughts about the rights of the colonists and how they should not be forced to pay taxes and obey the harsh laws the British Parliament showed how he wanted freedom and how he would come into play in the Colonies fight for freedom (“Thomas Jefferson”, O’Brien). Thomas Jefferson was elected to the Continental Congress, the government of the colonies. In 1775, Thomas Jefferson was named a delegate of the Second Continental Congress, and the delegates of the congress gave him the honor of writing the Declaration of Independence, in which Jefferson used his writing skills to inspire many (“Thomas Jefferson”, History.com Staff). Thomas Jefferson wrote an iconic document of American history and the document inspired the colonists. The Declaration of Independence is a famous document about why the American’s deserved and had the rights to have freedom, and that they are now their own nation and were at war with Britain. The document was adopted on July 4, 1776, the date of American Independence, telling the colonists how important and how great freedom was (“Thomas Jefferson”, History.com Staff). Thomas Jefferson showed leadership in the Continental Congress leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and he also was an influential