Before He Became President

By the 1770s, the American colonies, including Jefferson's Virginia, began to feel they were being unjustly treated by their British rulers. Thomas Jefferson became a leader in the fight for independence and represented Virginia at the Continental Congress.

During the Second Continental Congress, Jefferson was tasked, together with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, to write a Declaration of Independence. This document was to state that the colonies considered themselves free from British rule and were willing to fight for that freedom. Jefferson was the primary author of the document and wrote the first draft. After incorporating a few changes from the other members of the committee, they presented it to the congress. This document is one of the most treasured documents in the history of the United States.

During and After the Revolutionary War

Jefferson held a number of political positions during and after the war including U.S. Minister to France, Governor of Virginia, the first Secretary of State under George Washington, and Vice President under John Adams.

Fun Facts about Thomas Jefferson

• Jefferson was also an accomplished architect. He designed his famous home at Monticello as well as buildings for the University of Virginia.

• He had nine brothers and sisters.

• The White House was called the Presidential Mansion at the time when he lived there. He kept things informal, often answering the front door himself.

• The U.S. Congress purchased Jefferson's book collection in order to help him get out of debt. There were approximately 6000 books which became the start of the Library of Congress.

• He wrote his own epitaph for his tombstone. On it he listed what he considered his major accomplishments. He did not include becoming president of the United States.