After leaving the statue of George Washington, walk up Avenue d'Iéna to the Place des États- Unis. On a green gate you will see a green sign that says “Square Thomas Jefferson 1881.” In French, it explains that Thomas Jefferson was very important. This square was dedicated to him because he was a friend of France and the third American President. Further down the fence, as you walk toward the statue of Washington and Lafayette, you’ll see another sign that explains that he was a diplomat and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Read on to learn about Thomas Jefferson.
CHAPTER 1:WHO IS THOMAS JEFFERSON?
In this Chapter you will learn about before Thomas Jefferson was well... the Thomas Jefferson we know today. After that you will learn about when Thomas wrote the Declaration Of Independence
Childhood
Thomas Jefferson had fun as a child. One time when he was with his best friend Dabney Carr he had a bet. Since Dabney Carr’s horse was faster than Thomas’s horse Thomas wanted to race. He said they would race on February 30th. It was February 28th and Dabney Carr thought he would race Thomas in two days. But the next day was March 1st. Thomas had won the bet
When Thomas was only 14 years old his dad died.Thomas was a free man when this dreadful thing happened. According to the book named “Meet Thomas Jefferson Landmark Books” he enslaved thirty people and had his own pigs and horses. He didn't even have to go to school! At only 16 he went to college in Williamsburg which was the capital of Virginia.
Adventures in college
Right across the street from his college was the House of Burgesses which is where people in Virginia made laws (and the place Thomas Jefferson worked one day). Most people played cards or raced their horses but Thomas studied instead. One day a teacher brought him to the Governor's house. The governor liked Thomas.
Writing the Declaration of Independence
In 1776, After a year of fighting the congressman decided to tell the world what they were fighting for.They chose five men. One was Benjamin Franklin. One was John Adams.And one was Thomas Jefferson.Thomas was the one who wrote the Declaration Of Independence.His room was small and stuffy. Thomas’s room also had horse flies that bit, everywhere.It took 18 long and hot days to write the document.
What is the next chapter about?
The next chapter is about the Declaration Of Independence. Hopefully you are thinking what more you want to learn about the Declaration Of Independence and Thomas Jefferson.
CHAPTER 2: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
In this Chapter you will learn about the Declaration of Independence. First you will learn about this. Then you will learn about the writing part. And finally you will learn about the different parts.
Declaration Of Independence?
The Declaration Of Independence is a document that says America is free. It is the most important document in american History. It states that the colonies should split up from Great Britain. It was written because the colonists thought that Great Britain was treating them unfairly. The Declaration Of Independence convinced many colonists that they should break up with Great Britain.This document lists all things the king did that was unfair. The Declaration Of Independence was risky to write.
Writing the document
Thomas Jefferson was known for writing well, so he drafted the document.While Benjamin Franklin and John Adams edited. It took two and a half weeks to draft it. A beautiful draft was shown at congress on June 28th, 1776. According to Pebble Go Next Jefferson was against slavery, so he wrote in one of the drafts that there should be no slavery. This made Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite because while he drafted that there should be no slavery, he enslaved thirty people. Sadly the southern states disagreed that there should be no slavery so that was crossed off of the document.
Parts of the Declaration Of Independence
Paragraph 1, states that America can be a separate country from the world.
Paragraphs 3-29, says all unfair things King George III did.
Paragraph 31, says that colonists tried to reach out to other british leaders. But they wouldn't listen either.
And paragraph 32, states the colonies are free.
Why does this matter today?
This matters today because the Declaration Of Independence is what shaped America. Think of it as the main ideas of America's freedom. It’s also very historical. It goes back far in our families. This document explains everything during that time.
CHAPTER 3: A TIMELINE OF JEFFERSON IN POLITICS
In this chapter you are going to learn about Thomas Jefferson as a vice president and president. You are going to learn about this chronologically. This entire chapter is a timeline.
1776- In 1776, Jefferson ran for president. But he lost by 3 votes against John Adams. So he was vice president.
1800-Jefferson was successful and he became the third president of America. According to the BrainPop video about Thomas Jefferson, Thomas lowered taxes and military spending. This made the military more affordable.
1803-Jefferson signed the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of America.
1804-Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to the other side of America, which Thomas Jefferson bought. This was called the Lewis and Clark expedition. He also got reelected. But it did not go that well as his first presidency.
What is the next chapter?
In the next chapter you will learn about why I think Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father. Why do you think he is the most important Founding Father? Do you even think he is the most important Founding Father?
CHAPTER 4: WHY THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOUNDING FATHER?
Have you ever wondered who was the most important Founding Father? I say Thomas Jefferson is the most important Founding Father. Because he wrote the Declaration Of Independence. Because he served as third president. And most of all Because he signed the Louisiana Purchase.
One reason that Thomas Jefferson is the most important Founding Father is that he wrote the Declaration Of Independence. For example, he wrote all the things the king did unfairly. From the Stamp Act to the Intolerable Acts. Another example is that he wrote that the colonies are free from Great Britain. And the last example is that the colonies were a separate place from the world.That is how America is now an independent country. All of this shows Thomas Jefferson is important because he wrote the Declaration Of Independence.
Another reason that Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father is that he served as third president and got reelected. For example, he lowered taxes and military spend. Since he did this the military was more affordable. And the last example, is that he signed the Louisiana Purchase which you will read more about later. This caused the Lewis and Clark expedition.All of this shows that another reason Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father is that he served as third president and got reelected.
Although Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father because he wrote the Declaration Of Independence, and because he served as third president. But most of all Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father because he signed the Louisiana Purchase. For example, he bought the land from France, Napoleon. And another example is that he had a friendship with France. So that made it easier to buy the land. And finally the last example is that it doubled the size of America. All of this shows that the most important reason that Thomas Jefferson was the most important Founding Father is that he signed the Louisiana Purchase.
Now that you have finished listening why not ask yourself again: Who is the most important Founding Father. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George Washington, or maybe even Thomas Jefferson. Tell me at the end of the tour or send an email to Erin Thesing. Tell me why. Do not choose Thomas Jefferson because you think it will make me happy because I will not because you are not honest. I would like to know because after all you have learned about it is good to reflect and get something on your mind.
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