Thomas Jefferson: Author of America, An Eminent Life

Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was one of the most influential figures in American history. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed the thirteen American colonies' freedom from British rule. He also served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington and as the second Vice President under John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)

by Christopher Hitchens

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	829 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	208 pages

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Jefferson was a brilliant writer and thinker. He was a master of the English language, and his writings are still studied and admired today. He was also a gifted architect, and he designed his home, Monticello, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jefferson was a complex and controversial figure. He was a slave owner, but he also wrote eloquently about the evils of slavery. He was a strong advocate for individual liberty, but he also believed in the importance of government.

Despite his flaws, Jefferson was a great leader and a true visionary. He helped to shape the United States into the nation it is today.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, at Shadwell, his family's plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was the third of ten children born to Peter Jefferson, a successful planter and surveyor, and Jane Randolph Jefferson, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter.

Jefferson's father died when he was fourteen years old, and he inherited the family plantation. He attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he studied law and philosophy. He graduated in 1762 and returned to Shadwell to practice law.

Political Career

In 1769, Jefferson was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he quickly became a leader of the anti-British faction. He wrote a series of resolutions protesting British taxes and policies, and he helped to organize the Virginia Convention, which called for the colonies to unite against British rule.

In 1775, Jefferson was appointed to the Continental Congress. He served on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and he was the principal author of the document. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and it is considered one of the most important documents in American history.

After the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Jefferson returned to Virginia, where he served as governor during the Revolutionary War. He also helped to draft the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which guaranteed religious freedom to all Virginians.

In 1785, Jefferson was appointed as the first Secretary of State under George Washington. He served in this position until 1793, when he resigned to become the Vice President under John Adams.

Jefferson was elected President of the United States in 1800. He served two terms, and during his presidency, he oversaw the Louisiana Free Download, which doubled the size of the United States. He also commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the Louisiana Territory.

Later Life and Death

After leaving the presidency in 1809, Jefferson retired to Monticello, where he spent the rest of his life. He continued to write and to correspond with friends and admirers. He also served as the rector of the University of Virginia, which he had founded in 1819.

Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, at Monticello. He was eighty-three years old. He is buried at Monticello, next to his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.

Legacy

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most important figures in American history. He was a brilliant writer and thinker, and he helped to shape the United States into the nation it is today. His legacy continues to inspire Americans today.

Jefferson's writings are still studied and admired today. His Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most important documents in American history, and his other writings on politics, religion, and education are still relevant today.

Jefferson's architecture is also admired today. Monticello is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, and it is considered a masterpiece of American architecture.

Jefferson's legacy as a slave owner is more controversial. He owned over six hundred slaves during his lifetime, and he never freed them. However, he did write eloquently about the evils of slavery, and he helped to found the American Colonization Society, which sought to resettle freed slaves in Africa.

Despite his flaws, Jefferson was a great leader and a true visionary. He helped to shape the United States into the nation it is today, and his legacy continues to inspire Americans today.

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)

by Christopher Hitchens

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	829 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	208 pages

FREE