This is in interactive, electronic book narrating the
significant parts of Thomas Jeffersons life Use the arrow keys to
advance to the next slide At eight stages in the e-book, you will
asked What Would Thomas Jefferson Do? When asked WWTJD, click on
the action that you think Thomas Jefferson took About: WWTJD? Click
on the arrow to begin your What Would Thomas Jefferson Do?
Experience
Slide 4
On April 13, 1743, at Shadwell, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was
born. At the age of two, Jefferson and his family moved to his
uncles old plantation because it was asked of them in his uncles
will. Jefferson began his education at the age of five. He was
tutored at the plantation until he was nine years old. When his
family moved back to Shadwell, Jefferson was taught by Reverend
William Douglass at Dover Church. On August 17 th 1757 Jeffersons
father, Peter Jefferson, died at the age of forty-nine. Given that
he was the eldest male in his family, Jefferson was responsible for
taking care of himself, the plantation, and helping the family.
Early Life ABOUT
Slide 5
March 1790: WWTJD? Thomas Jefferson would decide to stay at
home in order to run the plantation for the next couple years.
Thomas Jefferson would decide to stay at home in order to run the
plantation for the next couple years. Aided by his fathers old
slaves, Jefferson was able to continue his education at William and
Mary College in Williamsburg. Aided by his fathers old slaves,
Jefferson was able to continue his education at William and Mary
College in Williamsburg. OR ABOUT
Slide 6
CORRECT ! NEXT Thomas Jefferson liked to learn. I believe he
wouldnt have stayed at the plantation unless it was necessary. On,
1786 August 27 Jefferson told Thomas Mann Randolph: "Knowledge
indeed is a desirable, a lovely possession. ABOUT
Slide 7
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 8
In just over two years, Thomas Jefferson quickly mastered Greek
grammar, physics and calculus. He also learned all that he could
about the arts, sciences, and moral philosophies.He left college in
April of 1762. Jefferson always made fun of the odd language of
lawyers. Yet after he left college, he was forced to study it.
College Life ABOUT
Slide 9
1767: WWTJD? Thomas Jefferson would nonetheless practice law.
He would become a very successful lawyer. Thomas Jefferson would
nonetheless practice law. He would become a very successful lawyer.
Thomas Jefferson would reject law, and turn to another profession.
Thomas Jefferson would reject law, and turn to another profession.
OR With no love for the legal profession. ABOUT
Slide 10
CORRECT ! NEXT Jefferson would continue his life practicing law
although he would never grow to enjoy it. He would regard his job
as a lawyer as the dark side of his life. One perk was the money he
earned as a lawyer. Because he valued learning and reading so
highly, he would spend most of his money earned on books.
ABOUT
Slide 11
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 12
On New Years day in 1772, two years after he met Martha Wayles
Skelton, Jefferson married the beautiful widow. In the fall of
1773, Jefferson assisted in the creation called the Committee of
Correspondence in the Virginia House of Burgesses. This committees
responsibility was to aid the communication between the thirteen
colonies in order to unite against the British. After the Boston
Tea Party the British governor of Virginia was so outraged that he
dissolved the House of Burgesses. Nonetheless the committee managed
to meet at a nearby tavern to continue their work. Career
Beginnings The House of Burgesses ABOUT
Slide 13
After the Meeting: WWTJD? He wrote his first political
masterpiece A Summary View of the Rights of British America. He
wrote his first political masterpiece A Summary View of the Rights
of British America. He returned home to be with his wife and relax.
There he would tell his wife about his political opinions. He
returned home to be with his wife and relax. There he would tell
his wife about his political opinions. OR ABOUT
Slide 14
CORRECT ! NEXT A Summary View of the Rights of British America
spoke of the unjust British rule and how the the god who gave us
life, gave us liberty at the same time. Printed around all of
America, the essay was read by thousands. Do you think the
Declaration of Independence would have been supported less had the
essay never been written? ABOUT
Slide 15
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 16
In September of 1774, Jefferson attended the First Continental
Congress. One year later, he went to the Second Continental
Congress. After Christmas in 1775, he left the Second Continental
Congress because he was sick. In May of 1776, he began his journey
back. He arrived on May 14 th. At the age of thirty-two, he was the
youngest delegate. Jefferson was popular and a man of many talents.
He knew several foreign languages, was an expert mathematician,
could design buildings, perform medical operations, survey land,
play violin, and even tame horses. He was an incredible writer. The
Continental Congresses ABOUT
Slide 17
Speeches: WWTJD? Jefferson made very eloquent speeches
expressing his views. He could be very persuasive. Jefferson made
very eloquent speeches expressing his views. He could be very
persuasive. Jefferson was very shy and didnt like speaking out in
public. He expresses his thoughts mainly through writing. Jefferson
was very shy and didnt like speaking out in public. He expresses
his thoughts mainly through writing. OR ABOUT
Slide 18
CORRECT ! NEXT Speeches have proved to be a very persuasive
form of communication. Do you think the world would have been any
different had Thomas Jefferson not had a fear of speaking in
public? ABOUT
Slide 19
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 20
Friday, June 7 th, 1776 Richard Henry Lee asked congress to
vote on the question of American independence. The vote was delayed
until July 1 st but a committee was elected to write the
Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was the chairman, and John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston were
the other members. Jefferson wrote first draft of the Declaration
within a few days. John Adams made two miniscule changes, and
Benjamin Franklin made five. Jefferson himself made sixteen
corrections. On July 2 nd congress voted in favor of independence.
That day began the three day discussion of Jeffersons words. On
July 4 th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed. The
Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson ABOUT
Slide 21
Revisions: WWTJD? Jefferson stood up for his work because he
believed in what he wrote. Jefferson stood up for his work because
he believed in what he wrote. Reluctant to speak in front of
audiences and thinking of what is best for the new country,
Jefferson sat quietly as changes were made to his work. Reluctant
to speak in front of audiences and thinking of what is best for the
new country, Jefferson sat quietly as changes were made to his
work. OR Some of Jeffersons harsh words towards the British and
their king as well as the anti-slavery section sparked debate.
ABOUT
Slide 22
CORRECT ! NEXT Thomas Jefferson was too shy to try to convince
others not to change his words. It is unknown how much he cared
that his work was being revised. He also realized that some changes
needed to be made so all the states would be for the declaration.
He simply sat there, took weather measurements, and listened. His
accusative words were softened and a section declaring that no more
slaves would be brought into America was removed. ABOUT
Slide 23
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 24
In September of 1776, Jefferson left congress and returned to
Virginia for he felt he had urgent business in the Virginia House
of Delegates. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and sometimes
Patrick Henry worked to change Virginia laws to be more democratic.
Slowly but surely Virginians gained more and more freedom because
of their hard work. Almost everyone was able to get an education,
estates could be broken up for inheritance, and there was a law
regarding religious freedom. Virginia became the first place where
religion and government were officially kept separated. He
completed the first edition of Notes on the State of Virginia, a
book still read today, at the Frenchs insistence in 1781. Virginian
Laws Virginia House of Delegates ABOUT
Slide 25
During the summer of 1782, Jefferson had a lot to deal with.
His wife, Martha, died while giving birth to their sixth child. He
promised his wife that he would never remarry; he stayed true to
his word. After Marthas death, Jefferson spent six months staying
in his house, seeing only his children. In 1783, Jefferson was
elected delegate to congress. In May of 1784, he was asked by
Congress to serve as a minister to Europe in junction with Benjamin
Franklin and John Adams. Life at Home & at Congress Martha
ABOUT
Slide 26
In November of 1789 Jefferson was asked by Washington to be his
Secretary of State. He accepted, but was shocked with other
politicians perspectives and opinions. Washington seemed to be the
only other people who wished for their new nation to be democratic.
Since everyone else didnt trust humanity to be able to govern
themselves, most politicians wanted America to be ruled by a king.
George Washington, who didnt originally want to run for president,
refused to run for a third term; his cabinet seemed to always argue
and he was tired of it. John Adams believed that a President should
be similar to a king. He ran for president. At the insistence of
his friends, Jefferson ran against Adams. Most likely due to
Jeffersons poor campaigning, John Adams won, but just barely.
Because Jefferson received the second most amount of electoral
votes, he became the vice-president of the Unites States of
America. He was sworn into his new position on March 4 th 1797.
From Secretary of State to Vice-president ABOUT
Slide 27
Feeling Helpless: WWTJD? These acts fueled him to run for
president. These acts fueled him to run for president. Although he
was very irritated, Thomas Jefferson didnt take any action against
these laws because he was too shy. Although he was very irritated,
Thomas Jefferson didnt take any action against these laws because
he was too shy. OR When laws were suggested that broke the first
amendment, he didnt have the authority to not let them pass. The
Alien and Sedition Acts especially angered Jefferson. ABOUT
Slide 28
CORRECT ! NEXT Jefferson was extremely upset that people were
put in jail for speaking their beliefs and that those dubbed
dangerous were exiled. It is thought that his anger and strong
beliefs are what made run for the presidency. ABOUT
Slide 29
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 30
Jefferson started his campaign in 1800, at the age of
fifty-seven, because he believed everyone had equal rights and
abilities. He seldom made speeches, but used his impressive writing
skills to appeal to the people. Jefferson wrote letters to local
politicians and newspapers throughout the nation. His belief that
religion and politics should be kept separate caused him to be
ostracized. The religious turned on him and accused him of being
the anti-Christ, a drunkard, a slave driver, a coward, a mad
scientist, and a worshipper of the uneducated masses. Although the
masses voted for Jefferson, Aaron burn received that same amount of
electoral votes that Jefferson received. Because of this tie, the
vote was taken to the House of Representatives. Angry that their
federalist candidate had lost, many federalist candidates voted for
Aaron Burn. Alexander Hamilton, who didnt really know Jefferson,
came to the rescue and changed their mind. Had Alexander Hamilton
never supported the Virginian, he would have most likely never
become president. After a week of tied votes, Jefferson was elected
president on Feb 17 th, 1801. He showed that he felt everyone was
equal even in every say life. Unlike John Adams, who sat at the
head of the table during dinner parties and seated guests based on
their importance, Jefferson encouraged the women to find their
seats first at a round table. During his presidency, he slashed
Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on
whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by
a third. Our Third President ABOUT
Slide 31
Slandered: WWTJD? Because Thomas Jefferson believed in justice,
he cleared his name. Because Thomas Jefferson believed in justice,
he cleared his name. Because he valued free speech and the freedom
of the press above himself, he never spoke against the lies.
Because he valued free speech and the freedom of the press above
himself, he never spoke against the lies. OR Many federalist papers
slandered Thomas Jefferson. ABOUT
Slide 32
CORRECT ! NEXT Thomas Jefferson believed in peoples rights very
strongly. On December 23rd of 1791 Jefferson said to Archibald
Stuart, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending
too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
ABOUT
Slide 33
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 34
Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe in 1803 to buy Louisiana
from the French. He bought this piece of land at the bargain price
of about $15 million dollars. This caused the size of the United
States of America to double; they were suddenly one of the largest
nations. Some people say that this was one of his most influential
actions. Although this purchase has caused him to be called a
hypocrite since it was a secret deal and he argued for a weak chief
executive. In May of 1804, he sent out to army officers to document
information on the lands plants, animals, Indians, and routes
because he wanted to explore Americas new territory. Later in the
year was so popular that he easily got re- elected. During his
second term, he managed to keep America out of the war between
England and France by using economic tactics. He refused to trade
with a number of European nations. In the end of 1807, he did not
seek a third term. Louisiana Purchase & His Second Term ABOUT
Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea exploring the Louisiana Purchase
Slide 35
Third Term: WWTJD? Due to the above mentioned reason and to
follow in Washingtons footsteps, Thomas Jefferson decided to not
run for a third term of presidency. Due to the above mentioned
reason and to follow in Washingtons footsteps, Thomas Jefferson
decided to not run for a third term of presidency. Nonetheless,
Thomas Jefferson ran for a third term of presidency, but was not
re-elected. Nonetheless, Thomas Jefferson ran for a third term of
presidency, but was not re-elected. OR Washington tended to favor
the Federalists and he Democratic Republicans were gaining
increasing support. ABOUT
Slide 36
CORRECT ! NEXT Thomas Jefferson only ran for two terms. George
Washington, the first president, set an unofficial precedent of
serving only two terms, which subsequent presidents followed until
1940. In 1941, the United States entered World War II, leading
voters to elect Roosevelt to a fourth term in 1944. In response,
after the war the Twenty-second Amendment was adopted. The
amendment bars anyone from being elected president more than twice,
or once if that person served more than half of another president's
term. ABOUT
Slide 37
Incorrect BACK ABOUT
Slide 38
Thomas Jefferson started a new life at Monticello. He rose
every morning at dawn to build a fire, read and/or wrote until
breakfast, rode miles on horseback, ate dinner, read again and
responded to those who wrote him letters. He received more than a
thousand of letters as well as visitors per year. This caused him
to maintain beds for fifty beds per night. With his free time he
made many inventions. Starting at the year of 1812, John Adams and
Jefferson renewed their friendship and wrote each other lengthy
letters. In 1817 Jefferson started working on a new education
system. It provided free elementary schools, high schools and a new
university. Because the government didnt want to fund the
University of VA, he raised money and trained men to help build the
erections. He searched for scholars as teachers from all over the
world. It opened in 1825. On July 4 th 1826, when America was half
a century old, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. Later Days
ABOUT
Slide 39
Hargrove, Jim. Thomas Jefferson: Third President of the United
States. Chicago: Childrens, 1986. Print.s Independence Hall
Association. "Thomas Jefferson." Ushistory.org. Web. 10 Aug. 2011..
The White House. "Thomas Jefferson." The White House. Web. 21 Aug.
2011.. Thomas Jefferson Foundation. "Brief Biography of Thomas
Jefferson Thomas Jeffersons Monticello." Thomas Jeffersons
Monticello. Web. 18 Aug. 2011.. Whitelaw, Nancy. Thomas Jefferson:
Philosopher and President. Greensboro, NC: Morgan Reynolds, 2002.
Print. Works Cited