Thomas Jefferson - Term Paper Example

It reads however that Thomas Jefferson authored “of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia, and as he wished “not a word more” (The Declaration). Historians could want to add some more accomplishments as, for example, his distinction as a naturalist, linguist and as an architect yet in the main they would surely concur with Jefferson’s own assessment. The author of Declaration of American Independence was born in present day Albemarle County, Va.

, on 13 April, 1743. Although Jefferson himself treated lightly his ancestry his mother came from one of Virginian pioneer families; his father was a prosperous landowner yet not of the class the most wealthy planters. Between 1760 and 1762 Thomas Jefferson studied at the College of William and Mary. Seven years later he started building Monticello on the plot he had inherited from the father (Bennet, 23). Since 1774 when Jefferson wrote his firs political pamphlet, A Summary View of the Rights of British America his fame began to reach beyond his native state of Virginia.

Debating on the basis of the theory of natural rights, Thomas Jefferson claimed that the colonies were not obliged to give allegiances to the king. He asserted that “the God who gave us life… gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, yet can not disjoin them” (Peterson) After being elected to the Second Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson was appointed on 11 June, 1776 to preside at the committee of five in preparing the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson was its primary author, though after consultation with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin the draft was amended substantively by the Congress. Based on the same theory of Natural rights that is contained in A Summary View, the Declaration of Independence brought Jefferson the