Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Virginia. He was the third of ten children in a wealthy family. His parents, Peter and Jane Randolph Jefferson, were important people in Virginia. As a kid, Jefferson learned many things like Latin, Greek, French, history, science, and literature. He also enjoyed riding horses.
When Jefferson was 14, his father passed away, and he had to share the family land with his brother, Randolph. At 16, he went to the College of William and Mary, where he studied math, philosophy, and played the violin. He graduated in 1762 and became a lawyer in 1767.
Jefferson started his political journey in 1769 as a delegate in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1768, he began building his home, Monticello, which he worked on for many years. In 1772, he married Martha Wayles Skelton, and they had six children, but only two grew up. Sadly, Martha died in 1782, and Jefferson was very sad and never married again.
In 1775, Jefferson joined the Second Continental Congress, where he helped write the Declaration of Independence with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. This important document was approved on July 4, 1776.
During the Revolutionary War, Jefferson was a Colonel and later worked in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was also the Governor of Virginia and an ambassador to France. Jefferson became the first U.S. Secretary of State and then the second Vice President under John Adams.
On March 4, 1801, Jefferson became the third President of the United States. He did many great things, like lowering taxes and reducing the national debt. One of his biggest achievements was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which made the U.S. twice as big. He sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore this new land, and their journey lasted over two years.
After his presidency ended in 1809, Jefferson focused on education and started the University of Virginia. He spent his later years at Monticello, reading and collecting books. At one time, he had over 6,500 books! When the Library of Congress was burned in 1814, he sold 6,000 of his books to help rebuild it, saying, “I cannot live without books.”
Thomas Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. He was buried at Monticello, and his tombstone highlights his contributions to American history.
Today, Thomas Jefferson is remembered as one of the greatest Presidents in U.S. history. He is known for defending human freedom and helping shape the nation. His face is on the nickel and the two-dollar bill, and he is one of the four Presidents on Mount Rushmore. The Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors his contributions and features his inspiring words about freedom and knowledge.
Build Your Own Monticello: Thomas Jefferson spent many years building his home, Monticello. Using building blocks or craft materials like cardboard and paper, create your own version of Monticello. Think about what features you would include in your dream house. Share your creation with your family and explain why you chose those features.
Explore the Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States. Find a map of the United States and color in the states that were part of the Louisiana Purchase. Discuss with a family member or friend why this purchase was important and how it might have changed life in America at that time.
Book Collection Adventure: Jefferson loved books and had a huge collection. Start your own mini-library at home. Choose a few of your favorite books and create a special place for them. Write a short note about why each book is special to you. Share your mini-library with your family and encourage them to add their favorite books too.
