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Birth of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is born in Shadwell, Virginia son of Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. -
Death of Jefferson's Father
Peter Jefferson dies, leaving his fourteen-year-old son Thomas his slaves and lands. Thomas becomes head of the Jefferson household. -
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William & Mary
collegeThomas Jefferson begins studying at the College of William & Mary. He meets George Wythe, a famous and well-educated lawyer. -
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Law Studies
george wytheJefferson graduates from William & Mary and begins reading law with George Wythe. -
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Thomas Jefferson, Lawyer
lawJefferson finishes his studies with George Wythe, is admitted to the Virginia Bar, and moves back to Shadwell. -
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Virginia House of Burgesses
house of burgessesJefferson, now 25 years old, is elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He quickly allies himself with George Washington and Patrick Henry. Around the same time, Jefferson begins construction on a new home at Monticello. -
Marriage to Martha Wayles Skelton
Jefferson marries Martha Wayles Skelton, the recently widowed daughter of the wealthy planter John Wayles Sketlon. -
First Daughter Born
The first child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton, named Martha Jefferson, is born at Monticello. She will go by Patsy until she becomes an adult. -
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Death of Jefferson's Father-in-Law
ripMartha Skelton's father, John Skelton dies, leaving Jefferson 5000 acres of land, more than 100 slaves, and large debts. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest against the newly passed taxes on tea, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty aid the British ships in Boston harbor and dump their cargo of tea into the River in an act that will become known as the Boston Tea Party. -
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Birth of Jane Randolph
JaneThe second child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferson is born and will die about a year later. Her name was Jane Rudolph. -
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Intolerable Acts
inntolerable actsThe British Parliament responds to the Boston Tea Party by passing the Intolerable Acts. -
A Summary View of the Rights of British America
Thomas Jefferson writes a book called, A Summary View of the Rights of British America. It was made to lead the Virginia delegates to the first Continental Congress. -
The Shot Heard around the World
The Battles of Lexington and Concord was the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
Jefferson arrives in Philadelphia to replace his cousin as a Virginia delegate of the Second Continental Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson gets approved by Congress. -
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Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
virginia statute for religous freedomJefferson writes the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, disestablishing the Episcopalian Church as Virginia's state religion and the separation of church and state. The statute will not pass into law until the year of 1786. -
Birth and Death of Third Child
The third child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferson is born. And dies unnamed just three weeks later. -
Birth of Mary Jefferson
The fourth child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferson, a daughter named Mary Jefferson, is born. -
Governor of Virginia
Jefferson is elected the second governor of Virginia. -
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Birth of Lucy Elizabeth
BabyThe fifth child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferon,named Lucy Elizabeth, is born. She dies before the age of two. -
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British Invasion of Virginia
invading britishBritish armies invade Virginia which forces Jefferson to leave the government. -
Resignation from Governorship
Jefferson finishes his second term as governor and steps down, leaving Virginia without an executive for eight days. -
Yorktown
George Washington's victory at the Battle of Yorktown which results in the surrender of the british army, which eventually leads to the end of the Revolutionary War. -
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Notes on the State of Virginia
Notes on The State of VirginiaJefferson begins writing Notes on the State of Virginia in response to a question he had received as governor. -
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Birth of Last Child
LucyThe last child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferson also named Lucy Elizabeth is born. Sadly she passes away 3years later. -
Death of Martha Jefferson
Weeks after giving birth to her last child, Martha Skelton dies. Before dying, she made Jefferson promise never to remarry. Her death left Jefferson shattered. -
Formal End of Revolutionary War
The Treaty of Paris officially brought an end to the Revolutionary War and gave American independence. -
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Confederation Congress
jefferson talkingJefferson heads to the Confederation Congress as a Virginia representative. In 1784, he drafts a report that will serve as the basis for the Northwest Ordinances which show how the United States was to settle the West. -
Jefferson in Europe
Jefferson traveled to Europe with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to negotiate commercial treaties with European countries and servise the United States war debts. Jefferson brought his twelve-year-old daughter Patsy with him. -
Secretary of State
Jefferson moves to New York, which was the U.S. temparory capital to take up a job as the United States first secretary of state. -
Return to Monticello
Jefferson resigns as the secretary of state and goes home to Monticello to tend to his fields. Although he didn't know at the time Jamed Madison started to plan Jefferson's presidential campaign for 1796. -
Election of 1796
George Washington's farewell marked the start of the first contested presidential campaign in American history, with Federalist John Adams against Republican Thomas Jefferson. Adams will win the election by 3 votes in the Electoral College. -
Vice Presidency
As the runner-up in the presidential election, Jefferson becomes John Adams' vice president. He then authors, A Manual of Parliamentary Practice. -
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Revolution of 1800
PresidentJefferson wins the election over John Adams. This becomes known as known as the "Revolution of 1800" which marks the first peaceful change from one party to another in American history. -
Jefferson Inaugural
Jefferson is sworn in as the third president of the United States in the nations new capital. This is also when he gave his first public speech. -
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson purchases Louisiana Territory from France for fifteen million dollars which basicaly doubled the size of the United States overnight. -
Lewis & Clark Expedition
Jefferson funds the Lewis and Clark expedition. Which was led by Meriwether Lewis to survey the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, they establish friendly relations with the indians living there, and in search for a Northwest Passage. -
Daughter Mary Dies in Childbirth
Mary Jefferson Eppes, Jefferson's second daughter, dies while giving birth to her third child. Thomas get into a severe state of depression. -
Second Inaugural
Jefferson is inaugurated into a second term in the presidency, major victory in the election of 1804.His inegaural addresse was probably the last spech of his life. -
Retirement and Return to Monticello
Jefferson finishes his term as president and heads back to Monticello. -
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Correspondence with John Adams
letter to John AdamsJefferson reconnects with his old rival John Adams and becomes good friends. They write to each other often until there death on the same day. -
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Library of Congress
LibraryJefferson sells his large library of books to Congress for $24,000 to help pay huge debts. The books are what set a starting point for the library of congress. -
Jefferson Oversees Launch of UVa
The University of Virginia accepts its first group of students to the university. Thomas Jefferson, who has designed the campus, hired the faculty, and even wrote the syllabi, got excited. -
Death of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson dies in his bed in Monticello, on the same day as John Adams. Jefferson passes away five hours or so before Adams around 12:50 in the afternoon. Which happens to be the 50th anniversary of the United States declaration of independence.
