Thomas Jefferson
Third President
1801-1809
Born: April 13, 1743 in Albermarle County, Virginia to Peter Jefferson, a planter and surveyor, and Jane Randolph, daughter of a prominent Virginia family.
-studies mat, phil,(his idols: Bacon, Newton, Locke (at becomes fluent in French, continues to study law
-after Franklin another man of enlightment leading the United States
=>multiinterest
: known not only for being a president of USA (third) and governor of Virginia but as well as scientist:
architect: he designed and built his mansion/house at Monticello
agriculturalist (tripled inherited land from his father, turned into prosperous farm)
inventor
educator, founder of present Democratic Party
Diplomat: served as first Secretary of State and minister to France
And writer: he wrote only one book: Notes on the state of Virginia
But wrote hundreds of letters, essays…concerning various issues from religious freedom, through international issues…addressing many people
=>He’s founder of university of Virginia
=>His vast collection of books, served as a basic for American Library of Congress
-his personal characteristics/traits : active (in many areas as I mentioned above)
but in comp. to BF, he was philosopher and thinker, but always tried to use ideas practically
=> he was famous for his pragmatic and utilitarian thinking: again (as BF, characteristics, that has been valued in America for centuries)
Died: July 4, 1826 in Monticello in Virginia

Declaration of Independence

=>Continental Congress on June 11 appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston as a committee to draft a declaration of independence.
=> The Declaration was designed to influence public opinion and gain support both among the new states and abroad -- especially in France, from which the new "United States" sought military assistance
The Declaration of Independence is made up of five distinct parts:
the introduction; the preambule; the body which can be divided into two sections;and a conclusion.
The introduction states that this document will "declare" the "causes" that have made it necessary for the American colonies to leave the British Empire.