Thomas Jefferson: An Important Figure In History

410 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: george washington's influence on america

Exactly 50 years after the signing of the “Declaration of Independence” in 1776, Former President Thomas Jefferson, passed away in Monticello, Virginia at 83 years old from unknown causes. Although the cause of his death is uncertain, Jefferson’s health slowly started to decrease ever since 1818 after an unfortunate visit to a mineral bath that led to his eventual death in 1826. Nevertheless, Thomas Jefferson was an important and influential figure in history, with an extensive list of accomplishments.

On April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was the third out of ten children born to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. At the early age of 9, Thomas began to receive his education at a local private school, learning Greek and …show more content…

In 1768, Jefferson was elected to the Virginia House of Burgess and in 1774, he wrote his first major political piece, “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.” In the years to follow, Thomas Jefferson attended the Second Continental Congress (1775), drafted the Declaration of Independence, and successfully abrogated the policies of entail and primogeniture – each dealing with the specifics of land inheritance; Jefferson also proposed the document, “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom”, which created religious freedom and the separation of church and state- although, it wasn’t adopted until years after, Jefferson believed this was his greatest life accomplishment.

Despite accomplishing many great things during his political career, Thomas Jefferson also had some low points- one specifically was his time as the Governor of Virginia. From 1779 to 1781, Jefferson was the elected Governor of Virginia- which was not an easy task, with the Confederate Army’s plea for necessary supplies and Virginia’s want for supply conservation, Jefferson was stuck between a rock and a hard

Show More
Related

  • Thomas Jefferson: A Man of Two Faces

    676 Words  | 2 Pages

    THESIS: Thomas Jefferson was a wealthy plantation owner and politician that would speak out about slavery on a regular basis but would still employ slaves for his own use.

    Read More

  • The Vast Influence of Thomas Jefferson

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson, the Hypocrite

    528 Words  | 2 Pages

    ideas of Hamilton destroyed that hope in the bud, We can pay off his debts

    Read More

  • George Washington And Thomas Jefferson

    354 Words  | 1 Pages

    George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two important men who affected our nations independence and the beginning years of our country. They helped form this nation into a free and sovereign country. Yet, they were different in many aspects they shared a few common features. Both Washington and Jefferson grew up in the southern state of Virginia and like most owned land to grow and harvest crops. In growing up they came from two different class levels of living. The Jefferson family was more famous and richer than Washington’s giving him a greater advantage and opportunity to succeed, especially in higher education. After Jefferson finished regular schooling he was able to attend the College of William and Mary were he studied law. He did so under the teaching of George Wthe who was considered perhaps the greatest teachers of law in Virginia at the time. Washington however was taught by his mom mainly in mathematics and received no higher education. Washington was still knowledgeable and began to put it to use in the army to become as a young British soldier. He interred the army at the young age of nineteen were he began to learn leadership and military strategy which would prove useful in the Revolutionary War to come. Jefferson on the other hand was involved in the laws, courts, and small politics. At the young age of twenty-five Jefferson was elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia were he served for five years. Washington was known for his great motivational speeches that would rally troops together to prepare for war and lead on to victory. Jefferson was more of a writer not a speaker and by using his skill he wrote and brought forth fresh ideas of independence and freedom.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Declaration Of Independence

    1340 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1774, Jefferson wrote “A Summary View of the Rights of British America”, in which he claimed that the colonies were tied to the king only by voluntary bonds of loyalty. The “Summary View of the Rights of British America” was published without Jefferson’s permission. This document was presented as a political pamphlet. It was taking Jefferson’s career to a whole another level, way further than

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and King's I Have A Dream

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson, an educated, well respected career man, served as governor of Virginia, secretary of state, and president of the United States. The Revolutionary era, during the 1770's, proved to be one of America's most victorious times. Despite the casualties the American colonies suffered, they proved to be stronger than their ruling land, Britain, and won the right to be a free land, becoming the United States of America. Living through this difficult turning point in history inspired Jefferson to write "The Declaration of Independence." Once again, nearly two hundred years later, America faced yet another turning point in history.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson A Hypocrite

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Hypocrisy behind Thomas Jefferson         One of Thomas Jefferson’s greatest accomplishments was being an author of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson strongly believed that slavery was morally wrong and that the United States should abolish it once and for all. In addition, Jefferson believed that all men were created equal, but as a slave owner he refused to let go of his own slaves. There is evidence behind the thought that his words did not always match his actions, especially when it came to individual rights and freedom.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson And The Civil War

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13,1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He was born into a family that had status, wealth, and tradition of public service. Jefferson was the third child in the family and grew up with six sisters and one brother. Thomas Jefferson was well educated; he attended private schools and at the age of seventeen he attended the College of William and Mary. Thomas Jefferson was interested in being a scientist, after learning that there was no opportunity for a career in science in Virginia he then studied law. In 1767, Thomas Jefferson was admitted to the bar in 1769, when Jefferson public career started he already owned more than twenty-five hundred acres that he inherited from his father who died in 1757. After marring his wife Martha Wayles Skelton whom was a young widow his property doubled. After the death of Martha’s parents, his property doubled again.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson

    2282 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson's Presidency

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was the third American President. Due to the fact that he was such an early President, he influenced our political system greatly, both in the short and long term with his seemingly quiet approach to congressional matters. During his presidency, many things happened that changed the United States as we know it. He coordinated the Louisiana Purchase, assisted in implementing the twelfth amendment, formed the character of the modern American President, and cut the U.S.’s war debt by a third.

    Read More

  • Relationship Between Jefferson And Sally Hemings

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    He was the third president of the United States and was the author of the Declaration of Independence. He was a leading figure in America’s early development and the governor of Virginia who served in the Virginia legislature during American revolutionary war. Along with serving as a U.S. minister to France and U.S., Jefferson was elected as a president from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson’s thoughts on the national government was that they ought to have limited role in citizen’s lives. In Jefferson's administration, Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark expedition are among the best accomplishments. Jefferson contended that as the time and circumstances changes, laws and constitutions must change along. He argued that ever generation should have the capacity to make its own particular laws and make its own administration. Furthermore, he got married to a young widow named Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772 and lived in Monticello and his wife’s sudden death in 1782 overwhelmed him with a deep distress. However, he returned back to his public life and served as American minister to France. In spite of the fact that Jefferson himself was slave-owner

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson's ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a "guided republic" which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. After fighting hard to rid America of British domination, Jefferson was determined to create a government that was responsible to, and derived its powers from, a free people. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Jefferson is thought by many to be the founder of the Democratic Party. He was foremost among the influential men who believed that laws should be made by those who are to obey them. Thomas Jefferson pushed hard to create a government that would serve and protect all its constituents.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of American Sphinx By Joseph J. Ellis

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained

    Read More

  • Response To Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

    1755 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jefferson expressed his concerns and disagreements with the king in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's main points focused on the lack of natural rights the colonists were granted. With the natural rights of the people removed the people and the government would not be able to function. When the king eliminated freedoms that colonists once had he stripped them of their grounds for life. Jefferson also focused on equality. He stated that all men were created equal and by equality he meant that all men (and women) rich or poor all had God given rights that no person should be able to restrict them from having.

    Read More

More about Thomas Jefferson: An Important Figure In History

Open Document