Colonial America, 1607-1783

Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826 I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. -Thomas Jefferson in a letter to John Adams, August 1, 1816 My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other on earth enjoy! -Thomas Jefferson in a letter to James Monroe, June 17, 1785 By Mack Brazelle Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke President Thomas Jefferson was a man of many extraordinary talents- a true renaissance man. He was a life-long scholar, lawyer, philosopher, architect, politician, and statesman. However, he is best known for writing what is perhaps the most important document on personal freedom in American history, the Declaration of Independence. In June of 1775, Jefferson met in Philadelphia representing Virginia as a member of the Second Continental Congress. The next year, he was appointed to head a five-man committee assigned to draft a document declaring independence from Britain. The other members of the committee were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Despite Adams’ and Franklin’s prestige and seniority, Jefferson was assigned the responsibility of drafting the document. He was a logical choice for political reasons as well as possessing a “powerful prose”. Jefferson’s reputation for eloquent penmanship came from letters he wrote and his writing of A Summary View of the Rights of British America; his first published work. A Summary View of the Rights of British America was a powerful manifesto originally written as legislature for the House of Burgesses. It proposed sweeping changes in the relationship between Virginia and England based on old English laws and rights. William DeGregorio states in reference to this, “He (Jefferson) eloquently made the case against Parliament’s authority over America” (43). One dramatic statement contained in the document was that Americans possessed “natural rights” to govern themselves (Peterson 105). The idea that men are born with natural rights as opposed to the government granting rights was a bold concept at that time. With Jefferson absent because of illness, the House of Burgesses declined to adopt the document because it was too radical. Friends of Jefferson held his document with such respect that they immediately had it published in both Philadelphia and England under the title A Summary View of the Rights of British American. Summary View was a mingling of legalism and rationalism. Jefferson always wrote out of purpose not pleasure, with a style that is dramatic yet brief and direct. Jefferson once said of writing, “The most valuable of all talents, that of never using two words where one will do” (Wright 17). This is evident in the use of punctuation in Summary View. Commas and semicolons are used to create long, flowing sentences that support Jefferson’s argument without wasting words. Looking back on the document, its content gives an insightful view into the political atmosphere that would lead to the Revolution. A Summary View of the Rights of British American was a government document, never used as intended, which became an inspirational philosophical work. However, Jefferson’s greatest work was still to come. After Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, the delegates of the Continental Congress debated it before it was ratified. The Declaration of Independence can be separated into two parts with the first being the philosophical preamble and the second containing indictments of King George III. The preamble was only changed with the addition of two words, but a long debate brought about many changes to the remainder of the declaration. According to Joseph Ellis, the preamble of the Declaration of Independence has become the most quoted statement in recorded history. The following is, in all probability, the best-known fifty-eight words in American literary history: “We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inherent and inalienable Right; that among these are life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed” (53). Only the words (inherent and) were added from Jefferson’s original draft. However, the changes made to the remainder of the declaration disturbed Jefferson. Merrill Peterson states in the American National Biography that, “Jefferson thought the declaration lost more that it gained in the process, and some modern interpreters have sharply differentiated Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence from the document adopted by Congress. Be that as it may, the Declaration of Independence bore unmistakably the stamp of Jefferson’s genius” (910). The Declaration of Independence shows Jefferson’s ability to write with purpose and beauty. Rarely does a single man have the skills to not only be a visionary, but also possess the literary talent to present his ideals in a manner that is at the same time understandable and profound. Jefferson captured a political philosophy with poetic grace. Bibliography DeGregorio, William. A. The Complete Book Of U.S. Presidents: From George Washington to Bill Clinton. 4^th ed. New York: Wings Books, 1993 This secondary source contains a brief biography on every United States President. Listing Presidents in chronological order, the text details facts as well as criticism and accomplishments. Researchers that need to understand important moments in any Presidents life will find this source useable. Only President Clinton’s biography is not timely because of the publication date. DeGregorio is a freelance writer who has written hundreds of works for such reference works as the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Encyclopedia Americana. Wright, Esmond. A Time For Courage: The Story of the Declaration of Independence. New York, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1971. Researchers looking for an interpretation of the men that came together to create the Declaration of Independence should used this source. This source contains an insightful and descriptive biography of Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, John Hancock, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Esmond has written numerous books on the events and people during the American Revolution. He was a professor of modern history at the University of Glasgow in England as well as a member of the British House of Commons. Ellis, Joseph J. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998. Considering that Joseph Ellis was educated at the College of William and Mary and Yale I believe this book is creditable. This timely source contains a detailed account of events that took place during Jefferson’s time in Philadelphia as a member of the Continental Congress. Also covered are Jefferson’s first term as President and his time spent at Monticello. Researchers looking for a complete account of Jefferson’s life should elsewhere. The text is informative and highly readable. Peterson, Merrill D. “Thomas Jefferson.” American National Biography. 24 vols. New York: oxford, 1999. Merrill Peterson’s biography of Jefferson is complete, timely, and accurate. Researchers needing a biographical background on Jefferson will find this source valuable. This new, large volume of reference material is best described as a biographical dictionary. The articles are listed in alphabetical order and written chronologically. Each article presents a life through significant events as they took place from birth to death. Published as the successor to the Dictionary of American Biography, all biographies are updated and relevant. Peterson, Merrill D. Jefferson Writings. New York: The Library of America, 1984. This primary source is a collection of Jefferson official writings, public papers, and personal letters. The book contains his major works like his Autobiography, A Summary View of the Rights of British America, and Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson’s Autobiography includes a draft of his most famous work, the Declaration of Independence. Peterson presents Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence with the draft that was amended and adopted by the Continental Congress. Researchers will find this nearly 1,600 page source to be an accurate of Jefferson overall work. By reading Jefferson’s many works, his eloquent style is clear and unmistakable. Thomas Jefferson Links: Jefferson’s Home “Monticello” Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress A Summary View of the Rights of British America Notes · Publication: 1774 · Genera: Nonfiction Study Questions What are the main reasons Jefferson wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America? Who was Jefferson addressing when he referred to “him” in A Summary View? What was the political atmosphere during the time Jefferson wrote A Summary View? What do you think made Jefferson write such a strong worded document about personal freedom? Can you find any similarity between Jefferson’s A Summary View and the Declaration of Independence? If Jefferson had not written A Summary View would he have been chosen to be the author of the Declaration of Independence? Declaration of Independence Notes · Drafted: June, 1776 · Adopted: July 4, 1776 · Genera: Government Document Study Questions What is the importance of the Declaration of Independence? Why was Thomas Jefferson asked to draft the Declaration of Independence? Because the Declaration of Independence could be the most famous statement of human rights in America, what irony can be found that Jefferson was the author of such a document? What type of government was Jefferson describing when he states, “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed”? Could another member of the Continental Congress have written the Declaration of Independence better than Jefferson? Notes on the State of Virginia Notes Publication: 1787 Genre: Nonfiction Study Questions Are the Notes on the State of Virginia an important document only in the history of Virginia or is it also an important document in America’s history? Would you consider Jefferson a historian because he wrote this detailed document? What made Jefferson write such a document on Virginia and not on other States or the entire country? Because much of the information in Notes on the State of Virginia has been found in at least some way not completely accurate, is the document less important as a historical account? Do you feel that Jefferson had a basic style of writing among his different works? What style would you describe his writings? Autobiography Notes · Publication: 1821 · Genre: Autobiography Study Questions What is the main reason Jefferson wrote his biography? Was it important that Jefferson wrote his own biography? Did his own interpretation of his life differ from that of others? What type of information did Jefferson leave out of his biography? After reading Jefferson’s biography, what do you think he wants to be remembered for? Do you think Jefferson understood his importance in American history at the time of his death? Did he understand the importance of the form of government that he helped create? Compare the autobiography of Jefferson with other autobiographies written around the same time like Benjamin Franklin. How does Jefferson’s biography compare in a work of literature?

Major Works Summary View of the Rights of British America Declaration of Independence Notes on the State of Virginia Autobiography Careers Plantation Owner Lawyer State Delegate Architect Governor Congressman Minister to France Secretary of State Vice President President Family Father: landowner & surveyor Peter Jefferson Mother: homemaker Jane Randolph Jefferson Siblings: seven, including six sisters and one brother Wife: widower Martha Wayles Skelton Daughters: Martha “Patsy” Jefferson & Mary “Polly” Jefferson were the only children of six to survive into maturity Homes Albermarle, Virginia Tuchahoe, Virginia Northam, Virginia Williamsburg, Virginia Monticello, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Paris, France Washington, DC Chronology 1743: born on April 13 in Albemarle, Virginia 1757: Father dies 1760-1762: attends College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia 1762-1767: studied law under George Wythe 1767: began practicing law 1769-1774: member of House of Burgesses 1772: married Martha Wayles Skelton on New Year’s Day 1772: birth of daughter Martha Jefferson 1774: writes Summary View of the Right of British America 1775-1776: member of Continental Congress 1776: mother dies 1776: drafts Declaration of Independence 1776-1779: member of Virginia House of Delegates 1778: birth of daughter Mary Jefferson 1779-1781: Governor of Virginia 1800: writes Notes on the State of Virginia 1782: wife, Martha dies 1783-1784: member of Continental Congress 1785-1789: minister to France 1790-1793: appointed Secretary of State by President Washington 1797-1801: elected Vice President of the United States 1801-1809: elected two terms as President of the United States 1803: purchased for the United States the Louisiana Territory from France 1804: daughter, Mary dies 1804: commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition 1807: signed bill that stopped slave trade 1809: retired 1819: help establish the University of Virginia 1821: writes Autobiography 1826: dies on July 4 the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

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