Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
Born in 1743 - Died in 1826
Thomas Jefferson wanted the 13 colonies to become a nation. He was a good
writer, so he wrote letters asking people to help the nation become free.
He wrote letter after letter; 50,000 letters during his lifetime.
He was such a good writer that he was one of five men chosen to write
the Declaration of Independence. He wanted to be able to think, so he
rented a house and stayed there by himself for 17 days. He searched in his
mind for just the right words. When he had finished it, he gave it to the
Continental Congress, and on July 4, 1776 it was adopted.
The war for
freedom; the revolution had started.
Jefferson was born on the family farm in Virginia to a wealthy family.
He had six sisters and three brothers; a large family indeed.
When he was a boy he enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding horses and canoeing.
He also loved music and learned to play the violin.
His father was his teacher and his parents talked to him about the
importance of serving others. His father died when Thomas was 14 years
old.
When he was 17 he entered college and studied law. He would make a schedule
for himself and study 15 hours or more a day. Because of his hard work,
he was at the head of his class. He soon passed the bar exam and became
a lawyer in Virginia.
He married and built a home called Monticello (Mon-ti-CHELLO). Later his wife, Martha, died.
When George Washington was president, Jefferson was his secretary of state.
Then he served as vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was
elected the third president of the United States in 1801.
His wife died 19 years before he became president, so there was no
"First Lady". Sometimes his daughters served as hostesses.
Dolley Madison, the wife of his Secretary of State,
was also a popular hostess in the White House.
He knew the country had to grow, so he completed the Louisiana Purchase
which doubled the size of the nation.
After two terms as president he returned to Monticello and farming.
He grew hundreds of different kinds of vegetables and fruit trees.
He knew education was important, so he planned the University of
Virginia. He designed the buildings and marked where they should be built.
He also chose the library books, and even hired the teachers. The school opened in 1825 with 40 students.
Thomas Jefferson died 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence.
This biography by Patsy Stevens, a retired teacher, was written in 2001.
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Dictionary
From
Word Central's Student Dictionary
by Merriam - Webster
(Pronunciation note: the schwa sound is shown by ə)
adopt
Pronunciation: ə-'dopt
Function: verb
to accept formally as in "the assembly adopted a constitution"
revolution
Pronunciation: rev-ə-'loo-shən
Function: noun
a sudden, extreme, or complete change or a basic change in government;
especially : the overthrow of one government and the substitution
of another by the governed,
rebellion
examination (exam)
Pronunciation: ig-'zam-ə-'nA-shən
Function: noun
a test to determine progress, fitness, or knowledge
First Lady
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized
the wife or hostess of the male chief executive of a state or nation
hostess
Pronunciation: 'hO-stəs
Function: noun
a woman who acts as host; especially : one who greets
Research Links
Declaring Independence - VideoEarly America.com
The Thomas Jefferson Papersat the Library of Congress
Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776from Eye Witness to History
Thomas JeffersonDucksters
My Own Bookput yourself in this story about the Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson Lesson PlanLesson Snips.com
(You must register to access lessons.)
Louisiana Purchase Lesson PlanLesson Snips.com
The Declaration of Independencevideo lesson
(Click on the topics "Interactive Media Files", be sure volume is turned up.)
Jefferson as Presidentvideo lesson
(Click on the topics "Interactive Media Files" )
Information about Thomas Jefferson(Look in the box top left) at Humanities Web
Presidential Coloring Pages
1776 (audio)
Jefferson and Technology (audio)
Two Monticellos (audio)
Engines of Our Ingenuity.
Thomas Jeffersonfrom Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography 1888
At biography.com search for Thomas Jefferson.
Scroll the panel for the "Video & Audio Results".
Videos
Books
Press "Go" to search for books about Thomas Jefferson.
Library
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ONLINE BOOKS and BOOK PREVIEWS
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Thomas Jefferson (First Biography)by Cassie Mayer (selected pages) Order
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Thomas Jefferson (Photo-illustrated Biography)by T. M. Usel (selected pages) Order
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Thomas Jefferson: A Life of Patriotismby Ann-Marie Kishel (selected pages) Order
here
Sterling Biographies: Thomas Jefferson: Architect of Freedomby Rita Thievon Mullin (selected pages) Order
here
Thomas Jefferson (Weekly Reader)by Monica Rausch (selected pages) Order
here
Thomas Jefferson : a picture book biographyby James Giblin, Michael Dooling (selected pages) Order
here
Thomas Jeffersonby Rebecca Aldridge (selected pages) Order
here
Thomas Jefferson: Let Freedom Ring!by Sneed B. Collard (selected pages) Order
here
Thomas Jefferson, Presidents and Their Timesby Trudi Strain Trueit (selected pages) Order
here
"Thomas Jefferson, A Character Sketch"(public domain) online book by Edward Ellis 1898
"Thomas Jefferson"(public domain) online book by Thomas Watson 1900
Thomas Jefferson, First Biographiesby Judy Emerson (selected pages)
Thomas Jefferson, Architect of Democracyby John B. Severance (selected pages)
Thomas Jefferson, History Maker Biosby Victoria Sherrow (selected pages)
Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United Statesby Heidi M. D. Elston (selected pages)
Thomas Jeffersonby Carol H. Behrman (selected pages)
Profiles of the Presidents, Thomas Jeffersonby Ann Heinrichs (selected pages)
Credits and Solutions
The portrait of Jefferson may be used without permission.
It is in the public domain and was found at the
Wikimedia Commons.
Picture to color courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons.
* Word Match Solution
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