Thomas Jefferson - A Biography

By acd9246
  • Birth

    Birth

    Thomas Jefferson is born in Shadwell, Virginia.
  • Father Dies

    Father Dies

    Thomas Jefferson's Father dies. Thomas is left to take care of his family and he continues his studies with the support of close friends and relatives.
  • College

    College

    Jefferson attends William and Mary college at a young age.
  • Graduation

    Graduation

    Jefferson graduates from William and Mary college and studies law.
  • Monticello

    Monticello

    The construction of Jefferson's house (Monticello) begins this year.
  • Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses

    Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses

    Thomas Jefferson is elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses at the age of 25. The Virginia House of Burgesses is one of the first examples of democracy in the USA.
  • Marriage

    Marriage

    Jefferson marries Martha Skelton. They later have 6 children.
  • Drafting

    Drafting

    Thomas Jefferson begins drafting with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin for the declaration of independance.
  • Published

    Published

    The declaration of Independence is finally published and Jefferson was one of the main writers.
  • Secretary of State

    Secretary of State

    Jefferson is appointed to Secretary of State by the first president, George Washington.
  • Wife Death

    Wife Death

    Martha Jefferson dies. This is a hard time for Thomas and he vows to never remarry.
  • Congress

    Congress

    Jefferson was elected to Congress. The plan of currency that he had proposed did not pass. He later was forced to resign due to his other job.
  • France Minister

    France Minister

    Thomas Jefferson was appointed to being the Minister to France. He had an important role in the French Revoltion.
  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention

    While Jefferson was in France, the Constitutional Convention was held. The people wanted to find solutions to the government's problems.
  • Vice President

    Vice President

    When the second president of the United States comes into office, (John Adams) he appoints Jefferson to be his Vice President.
  • Presidency

    Presidency

    Thomas Jefferson is voted into office to be the 3rd president of the United States. This was a major accomplishment for him.
  • Tripoli War begins

    Tripoli War begins

    Pirates were trying to ship slaves and Jefferson did not want to ship slaves so he waged war on the pirates.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Louisiana Purchase

    Thomas Jefferson made a very major purchase to double America's size for a cheap price of 15,000,000 dollars. He bought this vast land from France.
  • Lewis and Clarke

    Lewis and Clarke

    After buying this unknown land from France, Jefferson was curious as to what was in this land. He sent 2 explorers, Meriweather Lewis and William Clarke, to trek and map this land.
  • Napoleon

    Napoleon

    Napoleon becomes the ruler of France, and he makes a lot of negotiations with Jefferson.
  • Tripoli war ends

    Tripoli war ends

    Thomas Jefferson and America won the war after 4 years of fighting.
  • Slavery

    Slavery

    Slavery was abolished on this date and it was important in Jefferson's life.
  • Books

    Books

    Jefferson's books were bought by Congress after they had broken and worn books.
  • University of Virginia

    University of Virginia

    Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia to bring light on Virginia, his home state.
  • Death

    Death

    Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826 on the day that America got its indepdnce. He died from pneumonia and diarrhea.