In the early years of the formation of the United States, there were many important figures who contributed largely to how the country is today. Without some of those historical figures, the United States may not be the way it is today. If George Washington was not head of the Continental Army, some of the major battles of the Revolutionary War might not have been victories. If Sam Adams and Paul Revere did not create the Sons of Liberty, then there would not have been a public group that protested against the king of England, King George III might not have happened until later on in history.
Most importantly, without Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence might not have been written, and the United States of America might not exist. Granted, someone eventually would have attempted to declare independence from England but the country still might not have turned out the way it is today. Many people have characteristic traits that come into play for major causes that affect many people; for example, Thomas Jefferson’s confidence and determination played a major role in the United States’ fight for independence from Great Britain.
Thomas Jefferson was a person with the characteristic traits of confidence and determination. These traits are usually associated with those of a hero, which Thomas Jefferson could be looked at as. Historically, he could be considered a hero because he was the author of the Declaration of Independence, the document declaring American independence from British rule. Morally, he can be a hero as well considering the fact that he had determination and confidence to do what he believed was right for the colonies at the time, declaring independence. Like any great hero, there are usually others to help them along the way.
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Thomas Jefferson used the ideas of Enlightenment thinker, John Locke, when writing the Declaration of Independence. He wrote about how every man is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While many others agreed with declaring independence from Britain, Thomas Jefferson sought it out by writing the official document at the Second Continental Congress. He, along with other members present that day, signed the Declaration of Independence and sent it over to King George III.
On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell Virginia to Peter and Jane Jefferson. His father was a planter, and his mother came from a prominent Virginia family. He was the third child and had six sisters and one brother. When Jefferson’s father passed in 1757, his relationship with his mother began to strain. He stayed with a school teacher to continue learning Latin and Greek before enrolling in college. Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1762 where he mostly spent his days studying and playing violin. After graduating, he went on to study law and became a lawyer in 1767. From 1769 to 1775, he was a member of the House of Burgesses. Thomas Jefferson was the country’s first secretary of state, second vice president, and third president.
After his father died, he owned the property and began clearing it out to build a large mansion that he would call Monticello. Over years he furnished and fixed up the mansion with art, gadgets, and architectural details. He kept records of everything that happened there for years including a gardening journal, weather reports, and information about slaves.
Thomas Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772 and they moved into the Monticello. They had six children but only to of their daughters survived past childhood. His wife died in 1782 due to childbirth complications and Jefferson remarried; however, many suspect he fathered children to one of his slaves named Sally Hemmings. Although Jefferson is seen as a hero more so than a villain, he was a paradoxical hero. He was an advocate for freedom for everyone and promoted an emancipation plan for slaves, he was still a slave owner.
Even though he wrote in the Declaration of Independence about all men being created equal, he believed whites were superior to African Americans. In addition to that, Jefferson did not believe that both races would be able to peacefully co-exist. Following his father’s death, not only did he inherit property but also around 175 slaves and owned an estimated amount of about 600 throughout the course of his life. While he promoted freedom for all, he owned slaves and did not give them independence and liberty.
Despite Jefferson’s wrongs in owning slaves, he was an advocate for independence. He had very strong characteristics that made him confident and determined to succeed. He wrote the Declaration of Independence with confidence; furthermore, if Jefferson was not confident then he would not have written the document. Also, if he was not so determined for his freedom from England as well as others, then he might not have had that drive to write the document. Confidence and determination go hand in hand, when you are determined to do something, you have the confidence to do it.
Jefferson had the confidence with his determination to write the document to free the colonies from British rule. “My determination is to do you exact justice. I do not care what the laws or governments may do. I am sure they will never oblige me to do more than I shall do without needing any obligation but that of morality” (Letter from Jefferson to Jones). Many of Jefferson’s colleagues contributed to the writing of the Declaration of Independence as well. When working with others in any situation, Jefferson always had the utmost confidence in his colleagues.
“I trust therefore, with confidence, that every person within your county will cheerfully contribute all the provisions he can possibly spare; and as none can better judge than each man for his own family what is necessary for their subsistence of the stock he has on hand, and what other resources he can call in to its aid…” (Letter from Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Money Tax).
After the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson replaced Benjamin Franklin as the American minister in France. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson returned to the United States to be the first secretary of state. In this position he disputed with Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury. They disagreed on foreign policy and views of the U.S. Constitution. Jefferson co-founded the Democratic-Republican Party. Later in 1796, Jefferson ran against John Adams but gained the second highest number of votes making him the second vice president.
In the election of 1800, Jefferson and Adams ran against each other again but this time Jefferson won, making him the third president of the United States. The most important achievement that occurred during his presidency was the Louisiana Purchase. He ran for re-election in 1804 and won. He did not run for a third term and was succeeded by James Madison. In his later years, Jefferson retired to his home, Monticello, and helped found the University of Virginia. Jefferson died at age 83 on July 4, 1826, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Even after Jefferson’s death, his legacy lives on as the Unites States is a free country. His face is carved into Mount Rushmore and he is on the nickel. The Jefferson Memorial opened on April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of his birth. By writing the Declaration of Independence and using his confidence and determination to make America free from British rule, Jefferson has bettered our country.
“Nothing can equal the Rejoicings in the Cities, Towns and Villages thro’out the States on the late fourth of July in Celebration of the Declaration of Independence and the Birth of the new Constitution” (Letter to Jefferson from Hopkinson). Jefferson has contributed greatly in the process to make the United States of America the country it is today.
