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Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence. His father was a Virginia planter and also a surveyor. The father was a man of strong frame, able to stand between two great hogsheads of tobacco lying on their sides and set both on end at once. He lived a hardy life, surveying in the woods.

Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743. His father died when he was fourteen and left him the owner of a large plantation. Like most Virginia boys, he was fond of hunting, riding, and swimming. But he did not waste his life in sport. When he went to college at Williamsburg, he became a famous student. Sometimes he studied fifteen hours in a day, which would have been too much if he had not been strong. No person in all America, perhaps, was his superior in knowledge.

While he was a student, the colonies were thrown into a violent excitement by the passage of the Stamp Act in England. This was a law for taxing the Americans, made without their consent. While this excitement was raging, young Jefferson went into the Virginia Legislature one day and heard the famous speech of Patrick Henry against the Stamp Act.

In the midst of his speech, Patrick Henry cried out, "Caesar had his Brutus. Charles I his Cromwell, and George III — " At this point everybody thought Henry was going to threaten the death of George III who was king of England and of the colonies. This would have been treason. So without waiting for Henry to finish, some of those who heard him broke into an uproar, crying out, "Treason! treason!" But when they paused, Patrick Henry finished by saying, "George III may profit by their example. If that be treason, make the most of it." This scene made a deep impression on young Jefferson.

Jefferson's wealth was increased by his marriage. He built a house which he called Monticello [mon-te-chel'-lo], meaning "little mountain," from its situation on a high hill. Jefferson was very fond of trying new things. He introduced foreign plants and trees, and he brought in new articles of furniture and new ways of building houses.

While yet a young man, he was sent to the Virginia Legislature and then to Congress. He strongly favored the War of the Revolution. John Adams and others tried to persuade Congress to declare the colonies independent of England. At last, a committee was appointed to write the Declaration. Jefferson was not a great speaker, but he was a brilliant writer. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, and it was signed by the members of Congress on the Fourth of July. 1776.

In the Declaration, Jefferson had declared that "all men are created free and equal." He now set about abolishing some of the laws which kept men from being "free and equal" in this country. In his own State of Virginia, much of the land was tied up so that it could only descend to the oldest son. This was called the law of entail. Jefferson got this law abolished, so that a father's land would be more equally divided among his children.

There were also laws in most of the States which established some religious denomination as the religion of the State and supported it by taxes. Jefferson got Virginia to pass a law separating the State from the Church, and making all men equal in regard to their religion.

Jefferson was governor of Virginia during part of the Revolutionary War. and he had to make great exertions to defend the State from the British. The British troops were at length marching on Monticello, and Jefferson had to flee from his house.

Two of Jefferson's negro slaves, whose names were Martin and Caesar, made haste to hide their master's silver plate. They had raised a plank in the floor, and Caesar was crouched under the floor hiding the silverware as Martin handed it down to him. Just as the last piece went down. Martin saw the redcoats approaching. He dropped the plank, leaving Caesar a prisoner. In this uncomfortable place, the faithful fellow lay still for three days and nights without food. Jefferson was very loving and tender to his family. It was a great sorrow to him that four out of his six children died very young. His wife also died at the close of the Revolutionary War.

Jefferson was sent to take Franklin's place as American Minister in France. He was there five years, and then returned to America.

While Jefferson was gone, the Constitution of the United States had been adopted and General Washington had been elected President. He appointed Jefferson Secretary of State. Jefferson resigned this office after some years and went back to Monticello.

In 1796, he was elected Vice-President, and in 1800, he was chosen President of the United States. As President, he introduced a more simple way of living and transacting business. He was much opposed to pomp and ceremony. It is said that when he was inaugurated he rode to the Capitol on horseback and hitched his horse to the fence. Another account has it that he walked there in company with a few gentlemen. At any rate, he would have no display, but lived like a simple citizen.

When Jefferson became President, the United States only extended to the Mississippi River. President Jefferson bought from France a great region west of the Mississippi, larger than all the United States had been before that time. This is known as the "Louisiana purchase" because all the country bought from France was then called Louisiana. It has been cut up into many States since its purchase.

Jefferson was elected President a second time in 1804. In 1809, he retired to Monticello, where he liyed the remainder of his life.

He was once riding with his grandson when a poor man bowed to them. Jefferson returned the bow, but the boy did not. Jefferson turned to his grandson, and said, "Do you allow a poor man to be more of a gentleman than you are?

While he was President, Jefferson was once riding on horseback with some friends. An old man stood by a stream waiting to get across without wetting his feet. After most of the others had passed over, he asked Jefferson to take him on behind and carry him across, which he did. When he had got down, a gentleman, coming up behind, asked him, "Why did you ask him and not some other gentleman in the party?"

"I did not like to ask them," said the old man; "but the old gentleman there looked like he would do it, and so I asked him." He was very much surprised to learn that it was the President who had carried him over.

After Jefferson retired from the presidency, so many people desired to see him that his plantation house was overrun with company, until he was made poor by entertaining those who came. It is related that one woman even poked a pane of glass out with her parasol, in order to see the man who wrote the great Declaration.

John Adams, the second President, and Jefferson, the third, lived to be very old. They died on the same day. Curiously, that day was the 4th of July, 1826. If you subtract 1776 from 1826, you will find that they died exactly fifty years after the day on which the great Declaration was signed. And they were the two men who had the largest share in the making of the Declaration of Independence.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read and/or listen to the story.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Answer the review questions.

Synopsis

Thomas Jefferson inherited a large plantation at the age of fourteen. Even though born into comfortable circumstances, Jefferson worked extremely hard in college, studying up to 15 hours a day. While a student, Jefferson heard impassioned speeches against England's Stamp Act. Jefferson married, increasing his wealth, and built a house on a hill that he called Monticello (little mountain). Jefferson was sent to the Virginia Legislature and then to Congress. Although Jefferson was not a great speaker, he was a great writer, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence in which he asserted, "all men are created free and equal." Jefferson worked to overturn unfair laws, including the "law of entail" that required land to only go to the eldest son. Jefferson also worked to pass a law separating Church from State in Virginia. Jefferson served as Governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War. He had to flee Monticello when the British marched in. Jefferson served as Minister to France and became George Washington's Secretary of State. He later became Vice-President and then President of the United States. As President, Jefferson was more interested in simplicity than pomp and ceremony. He also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase from France, which extended America from "sea to shining sea." He was re-elected President and then retired to Monticello, where he lived out the rest of his life.

Vocabulary

Simplicity: The state of being plain or uncomplicated.
Pomp and Ceremony: Show of magnificence; a parade; a show of power.
Treason: The crime of attempting to overthrow a King, Queen, or government.
Brilliant: Shining, splendid.
Secretary of State: An officer who oversees the business of the United States with other nations.
Inaugurated: Put into office with proper ceremonies.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • Narrate the events aloud in your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Story Picture

  • Study the story picture of Thomas Jefferson and describe how it relates to the story.

Activity 3: Map the Story

  • Find the area of the United States purchased during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and that extended America from 'sea to shining sea.'

Activity 4: Complete Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete pages 45-46 of 'American History Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art for Third Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Why was Thomas Jefferson chosen to write the Declaration of Independence?
1 / 6

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence because he was an excellent writer, although not a great speaker.
1 / 6

Question 2

Why did Thomas Jefferson wish to overturn the 'law of entail?'
2 / 6

Answer 2

The 'law of entail' required land to only go to the eldest son. Repealing the law meant an inheritance could be spread equitably among children.
2 / 6

Question 3

Why did Thomas Jefferson pass laws for the separation of church and state?
3 / 6

Answer 3

Jefferson passed laws for the separation of church and state to ensure the American people could be free to practice their chosen religion.
3 / 6

Question 4

Why did Thomas Jefferson have to flee Monticello during the Revolutionary War?
4 / 6

Answer 4

Jefferson had to flee Monticello during the Revolutionary War because the British marched into the area.
4 / 6

Question 5

What large acquisition of land from the French occurred when Thomas Jefferson was President?
5 / 6

Answer 5

The Louisiana Purchase from France added land west of the Mississippi river all the way to the Pacific Ocean to America.
5 / 6

Question 6

What was the highest office Thomas Jefferson held?
6 / 6

Answer 6

The highest office Jefferson held was President of the United States.
6 / 6

  1. Why was Thomas Jefferson chosen to write the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence because he was an excellent writer, although not a great speaker.
  2. Why did Thomas Jefferson wish to overturn the 'law of entail?' The 'law of entail' required land to only go to the eldest son. Repealing the law meant an inheritance could be spread equitably among children.
  3. Why did Thomas Jefferson pass laws for the separation of church and state? Jefferson passed laws for the separation of church and state to ensure the American people could be free to practice their chosen religion.
  4. Why did Thomas Jefferson have to flee Monticello during the Revolutionary War? Jefferson had to flee Monticello during the Revolutionary War because the British marched into the area.
  5. What large acquisition of land from the French occurred when Thomas Jefferson was President? The Louisiana Purchase from France added land west of the Mississippi river all the way to the Pacific Ocean to America.
  6. What was the highest office Thomas Jefferson held? The highest office Jefferson held was President of the United States.

References

  1. 'Thomas Jefferson by Mather Brown. (1786, {PD-old-auto-1923})' Wikipedia. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mather_Brown_-_Thomas_Jefferson_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg. n.p.
  2. 'Louisiana Purchase. ({PD-US})' Wikipedia. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louisianapurchase.gif. n.p.