Thomas Jefferson

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3rd President of the United States
Thomas Jefferson
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Charles Willson Peale, 1791
In office March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1809
Vice President(s)	Aaron Burr; George Clinton
Preceded by	John Adams
Succeeded by	James Madison
2nd Vice President of the United States
In office March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801
President	John Adams
Preceded by	John Adams
Succeeded by	Aaron Burr

Born	April 13, 1743 Shadwell, Virginia
Died	July 4, 1826 Charlottesville, Virginia
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.

1 Early life
2 Political life
3 Presidency
4 Later years
5 Other websites

[change] Early life

Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia. His parents were farmers. Jefferson was very smart and studied many things at school and college. His home Monticello was very advanced for that period of time.

Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772.

[change] Political life

Jefferson wanted the Thirteen Colonies to be independent of Great Britain. He was a leader of those who wanted the same thing. He was a member of the Second Continental Congress. He was chosen to be on the committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence and was its main writer.

Jefferson served as a legislator in Virginia and as Governor of Virginia.

Jefferson was minister to France from 1785-1789.

Jefferson was selected by George Washington as the first Secretary of State. Jefferson thought that the federal government should be small. He had the opposite view of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. He led the party that opposed Hamilton and the Federalist Party. This party was called the Anti-Federalist Party and would become the Democratic-Republican Party.

Jefferson ran for president against John Adams. He got the second highest number of votes and as was the law at the time, became vice-president.

[change] Presidency

Jefferson ran again as the Democratic-Republican candidate in 1800 and gained a narrow victory over Aaron Burr. He was reelected in 1804. Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the land gained by the Louisiana Purchase.

Jefferson had to deal with the threat of war during his second term. Great Britain and France were at war for almost all of Jefferson's time as president. Each side did things that could have made the United States enter the war. Jefferson worked to keep the United States out of the war and neutral.

[change] Later years

Jefferson created the University of Virginia.

Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as John Adams. He is considered one of the greatest United States Presidents.