Early+History+P7

__Thomas Jefferson__

Thomas Jefferson was born into a family that consisted of many important Virginians. When his father's close friend Colonel William Randolph died, his family inherited his estate in Tuckahoe. His father was later appointed to the Colonelcy of the county, which is an important military rank in their county. Jefferson was always exposed to military influence and politics. At 16 he attended the College of Wiliam and Mary in WIliamsburg, where he graduated with the highest honors in 1762. During his time in college he became fluent in French. Jefferson became involved in the Flat Hat Club (FHC), which was the first college society within the United States. During these meetings they held discussions and found fellowship. The members had to attend group meals and morning and evening prayers.This is like a modern day fraternity. When conflict broke out between the colonies and Great Britain he said "the British Parliment has no right to exercise authority over us." In 1769 Jefferson represented Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1774 he published a series of essays, called __A Summary Veiw of the Rights of British America__, in response to the Coercive Acts.It stated his resolutions against those acts, and that the colonist had the right to establish thier own government. In 1775 he became a part of the Second Continental Congress. In 1776, he became apart of the new Virginia House of Delegates. His goal was to reform Virginia's law and to give insurance to the knowledge that Virginia was a democratic state. During his three year sentence, he drafted 126 bills. Some of these bills included the abolishment of the first born son inheriting all the land, and establishing the freedom of religion. He also wanted murder and treason to be the only death penalty crimes, but this goal was "shot down" by one vote. In 1776 he was appointed to the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, and he was a delegate in the Virginia Assembly. He was elected govenor of Virginia in 1779. During his time as govenor the Virginia Assembly was moved to Richmond. Two years later he retired from politics after the British raided his house. Jefferson lost his wife in 1782 and was left severly depressed. After her death he decided to get involved in politics again. He had inherited slaves from his father, however, he opposed slavery. He tried to abolish slavery in Virginia but he didn't have any support. Jefferson was the United States Minister to France from 1785-1789. Therefore, he wasn't present during the drafting and ratifying of the United States Constitution because he was in France. Jefferson supported the French for fighting for their independence but he felt bad because he had to leave in 1789 to go back to the United States. A year later he became the first Secretary of State under President George Washington. He served from 1790-1793. During his service he handled foreign affair problems. He also dealt with the problems that came up concerning the Federalists and the Republicans. Jefferson dealt with this on a day to day basis considering the Treasury Secretary was Alexander Hamilton, an antifederalist. Unlike Hamilton, Jefferson believed that the Americans Democracy was built on the self-reliant farmers, not the city folks. Beacuse of his advertisments of republican opinions, he is known as one of the most influentail "Founding Fathers" in the United States. Ironically, Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826, which is the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.