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Thomas Jefferson Research Paper

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Thomas Jefferson: -delegate to the second Continental Congress -draftsman of the Declaration of Independence -first Secretary of State(1789-1794) -second Vice President of the US(1797-1801) -third US President(1801-1809) -Minister to France -second Governor of Virginia(1779-1781) -responsible for the Louisiana Purchase Birth: April 13, 1743, Shadwell, Virginia Death: July 4, 1826, Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia Education: College of William and Mary(second US college) Political Party: Democratic-Republican Spouse: Martha Skelton Children: Martha, Jane, Mary Wayles, Lucy Elizabeth, Lucy Elizabeth. Friends and allies: James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette, and others. Thomas Jefferson …show more content…

He was third of ten children. He was tutored by Reverend James Maury. He studied Latin, French, and Greek. He attended the College of William and Mary, the second oldest school in the US at the time. After college he went to study and practice law for several years. At the age of fourteen Jefferson lost his father who had left him 3000 acres of land and about thirty slaves. After his schooling, on this land he built Monticello, his new home. Several years later he married his third cousin, Martha Wayles Skelton. They had six children, but only two who lived to adulthood, Martha and Mary. In 1775 Jefferson begins drafting the Declaration of Independence. In 1776 it is read publicly. He is later elected governor of Virginia and again reflected for his second term. His time as governor was stressful. Shortly after his wife becomes weak from childbirth and other problems and does not recover. She dies and Jefferson is devastated. He is tired and doubts he will go back to his political career. He was later given the chance go to France and become the Minister to France. He had mostly talked about the debts of the United States. After this part of his career ended he was appointed the State's first Secretary of State by George Washington in 1789. After this term he became Vice President under John Adams and then became president after him in

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