Thomas Jefferson's Presidency: The Father of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson was our third President serving two terms from 1801-1909. He was also notable for many other things as well, including the founding of our country. Jefferson served as Secretary of State under George Washington, as well as John Adams Vice-President. Although these are not the offices Thomas Jefferson wanted to be noted for. He actually wrote the inscription he wanted to be written on his tomb, and requested that "not a word more" would be inscribed. They followed his demand, and on his tombstone after his name, it states, "author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia." These were the accomplishments he was most proud of.

Thomas Jefferson was born April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia to Peter and Jane Randolph Jefferson. Jefferson came from one of the first families of Virginia through his mother's side. His father was a very prominant landowner, although not necessarily wealthy. Jefferson inherited some of his father's land, where he built a mansion that he and his wife moved into when they married on January 1, 1772. Together they had six children, but only two survived into adulthood: Martha Washington Jefferson as well as Mary Jefferson. The other four died within the first three years of life.

He along with his fellow writer of the Declaration of Independence died on it's fiftieth anniversary, just hours before John Adams on July 4, 1826. Ironically John Adams was quoted as saying on his death bed, "Thomas Jefferson survives." This statement may have been in rememberance of Jefferson being the President who succeeded him, or Jefferson, being the main writer of the Declaration of Independance, was on his mind due to the anniversary of the first Independance Day. Although maybe even more likely, the statement was embellished.

Father of the Declaration of Independence

There were five men chosen to write up the Declaration of Independence. Although Jefferson stood apart, in part because he was elected to head this committee or the fact that he wrote  majority of the Declaration of Independence. He was officially elected as head of the committee on June 11, 1776, and it was finished less than a month later. Five men were chosen to help him. Among these men, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin amended his original draft, and Congress edited for stylistic and substance. There were two main things that were deleted from Jefferson's original draft. One was a statement that colonists could have voluntary allegiece to the crown. The other item that was deleted was a clause that could have censured the home country forcing slavery on America.

Most of us know Thomas Jefferson as our third President. He first ran for presidency the term that John Adams was elected, in which John Adams won in a very tight race 71-68 electoral votes. In the sam tradition that John Adams was the vice-President, Thomas Jefferson became the first vice-President. The second election against John Adams, Jefferson won with a vast majority.

One of the biggest things he did while President, he addressed in his first inaugural address. He discussed his desire to have the United States spread into the Louisiana Territory. During this time, the Territory was owned by Spain. When the United States had purchased the Louisiana Territory, it doubled the country in size. Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to explore the land.

During his presidency, Jefferson dreamed of eliminating the national debt, because he felt it was a "cesspool for corruption." He felt that the country did not have to get into debt in order to be able to have foreign credit. He would be very discouraged to hear where our National debt is today.

Father of the University of Virginia

Although many would claim that Presidency was Thomas Jeffererson's greatest claim to fame, it was not that which Jefferson prided himself. He felt his greatest accomplishment was not only dreaming up of, but also planning and building the University of Viriginia. He was involved in all aspects of its construction whether it was supervising the construction workers, or planning the curriculum and even hiring the faculty. It was finished and opened years after his Presidency and still resides today in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819, but did not open for classes until 1825, the year before Jefferson's death. It's first group of students was a class of 68 students with eight faculty members to educate them.

The most notable and recognizable part of the college is the Rotunda, in which Jefferson designed himself. For most of the Universities years, the Rotunda was used as the library, although in recent years a much larger library was constructed. It lays at the north end of campus, Jefferson's idea for the Rotunda was to be the focal point of the capus, and felt the library belonged at such a focal point. They did have to restore the building in 1975, due to a fire, although they stayed true to the original construction of the building. The inspiration for the building was the Pantheon in Rome.

Although we will often remember him best as our third President, it is evident that he had a much stronger influence on our country than just that of being an American President. I could have gone on for paragraphs more on his achievements. I guess we will have to leave more of his acknoledgements for another hub.

sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/tjefferson

virginia.edu

wikipedia.org