Thomas Jefferson

Breanna Rueckert
 Early Life
• Born April 13, 1743 in Shadewell,Virginia
• He was the eldest son in his family
• His father died when he was 14, leaving
Thomas with all his land and slaves.
• The name of his home is the Monticello
• Later marries Martha Skelton-they have 6
children together (only 2 lived to adulthood)
 Before Presidency Timeline
• When he was 25 years old, he was elected
into the Virginia House of Burgesses.
• While a delegate to the Second Continental
Congress, he begins drafting the Declaration
of Independence
• July 4, 1776, his declaration is published.
• 1779- becomes the governor of Virginia
 Timeline cont..
• 1783-elected to the Continental Congress
• 1785- appointed Minister of France
• 1790- moves to New York to begin his term as the
first Secretary of State for George Washington
• 1794- he resigns and moves back to the Monicello.
Little did he know, James Madison was planning his
presidential campaign for 1796.
• Unfortunately, he loses the election by 3 votes
• 1797- he becomes John Adams’ VP
 President!!

• 1800- Jefferson defeats Adams in the Presidential

election

• 3rd President of the USA

• He represented and founded the Democratic-

Republican party- an opposition to the Federalist
party
 Louisiana Purchase
• 1803- Jefferson purchases 800,000 sq.mi.
Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte
for $15 million-it doubled the size of the US
overnight.
• He organizes the Lewis & Clark expedition to
explore the new territory. It was led by his
personal secretary-Meriwether Lewis
 Re-election
• In the election of 1804, Thomas Jefferson wins
by a landslide

• Democratic-Republican Party was in power

 Embargo Act
• In a desperate attempt to avoid war, the US
issues an embargo (proposed by Jefferson) on
foreign trade.
• He wanted France and Britain to respect the US
neutrality in the war.
• The act was a complete failure and resulted in
the huge decline in the US economy.
• It was in effect for 15 months before being lifted
(3 days before Jefferson left office)
 End of life
• March 1809- he finishes his second term and
returns home to the Monticello
• Founded the University of Virginia
• 1826- his health begins to decline
• John Adams, on his deathbed said, “Thomas
Jefferson survives”. He was wrong. Thomas
Jefferson died a few hours before his friend on
July 4, 1826. GOD BLESS AMERICA
 Pros and Cons
• Pro- wrote the Declaration of Independence
(Founding Father)
• Pro-served as 1st Secretary of State
• Pro-Louisiana Purchase

• Con- gave up his fight against slavery-many called

him a hypocrite because of how many slaves he
owned
• Con- Embargo Act (economy decline)
 References
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/u
s/pres/jefferson/timeline.shtml

• http://www.shmoop.com/thomas-jefferson/ti
meline.html