by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2010

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the US was a Virginian and not one of the earlier New England rabble rousers that preceded the Revolutionary War, but his contributions to the United States of America are likewise just as noteworthy. For one thing as a great thinker and he looms large when one thinks of founding fathers. His life and his thoughts and his beautiful monument keeps him fresh in the minds of Americans. His alleged off and on friendship with John Adams, makes good reading and fills the history books with his intriguing thoughts and deeds.

Jefferson was multitalented. He read widely and he was a good writer. He was able to put his thoughts, and the thoughts of others concerning how the new colonist wanted to govern themselves, on paper. Without his stature, his abilities and his hard work, much of our first beginnings would not have started off so well. His life was a sad one as well. His wife died after only ten years leaving him with six small children.

His home at Monticello he started building at the age of twenty-six. He kept adding to and refurbishing it for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Continental Congress when he was asked to writer the Declaration of Independence. It was always with reluctance that he left his beloved home and went to work for his country. The Declaration states that all men are equal at birth and that governments are to serve the people, the people are not to server the governments. Whatever else he said and believed, he was eloquent in his thoughts and left his fellow Americans with eloquent freedom thoughts.

Since, of course, he was been criticized for his hypocrisy of owing slaves and fathering children by one of his slaves while proclaiming everyone is born equal. Yet the purpose of this article is not to condemn but to tell of his importance as founding father. Prior to his being elected president of the US he served as governor of Virginia, succeeded Benjamin Franklin in France as a representative from this country. At the time he was over there as minister of trade. Most likely he enjoyed this experience. He gained knowledge of Europe and learned all about their trade practices while buying furniture and other items to furnish Monticello. In his quests to learn all he could about everything, he was insatiable, it seemed.

George Washington selected him as Secretary of State in 1790. In 1796 he lost the presidency to John Adams by three electoral votes, thus becoming his vice-president. The next time around, he won. Notable events during his presidency was the Louisiana Purchase and his support of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He ran for a second time and won again but these last four years were tumultuous as compared to the first four.

The legacy of Jefferson to this country continues. Ever so often something new will be discovered or a new book will be written and again he will be the talk of the town. He died at the age of eighty three a few hours before his friend and fellow compatriot John Adams died. The date and time was July 4, 1826. What makes this event special that that both of the authors and signers and workers for the Declaration of Independence died on the same day which also happened to be the fiftieth anniversary of their fateful signing. That fact alone will keep the both of these honorable founding fathers alive in our memory.

Learn more about this author, Effie Moore Salem.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.