Thomas a commissioner to help negotiate commercial treaties.
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Va. Jeffersonattended the College of William and Mary and then studied law with George Wythe.
In 1769 hebegan six years as a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1770 he began buildingMonticello on land inherited by his father. Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton. They hadsix children.
Only two of them survived into their adulthood. His wife died on September 6,1782.Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. When Jeffersonreturned to Virginia, he served in the House of Delegates until 1779. While the AmericanRevolution continued, Jefferson wanted to liberalize Virginias laws.
Jefferson introduceddifferent bills that were resisted. His bill to create a free system of tax supported elementaryeducation for all except slaves was defeated. Jeffersons bill on religious liberty wasnt passeduntil 1786.In June 1779, Jefferson was elected governor of Virginia. His political enemies criticizedhis performance as governor.
From 1784 to 1789, Jefferson lived outside the United States. Hewas sent to Paris as a commissioner to help negotiate commercial treaties. When Jefferson leftParis on September 26, 1789, he expected to return to his post. When he came back Congressappointed him to secretary of state. In 1796, Jefferson became the presidential candidate of theDemocratic-Republican part. Jefferson lost to John Adams and became vice-president.Jeffersons triumph of president was delayed as a result of a tie with Aaron Burr.
Federalist leaders opposed Jefferson, but the people approved his policies. Internal taxes werereduced, the military budget was cut and plans were made to eliminate the public debt. Jeffersons main concern for his second term of presidency was foreign affairs.
He was the firstpresident to be inaugurated in Washington. The purchase of Louisiana from France in 1803 wasthe most notable act of his administration. In the final 17 years of his life, Jeffersons major accomplishment was the founding of theUniversity of Virginia at Charlottesville. He planned it, designed it, and supervised it.
On July 4,1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson died at Monticello. Jefferson had and enormous variety of interests and skills, ranging from education and science toarchitecture and music.History Reports
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