Jenny+L.+-+I+am+Thomas+Jefferson

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The historical figure I have chosen for this project, as shown in the picture below, is Thomas Jefferson. Prior to the research we were to do for the particular project, I knew that he was the third president of the United States of America as well as a major character during the War of Independence, as he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Because of the knowledge I gained in Social Studies class, I knew his political views and his achievements in his life. Prior to my research, I knew that he was a major member of the Democrat Republican party and was the vice president during John Adams, who was a strong believer in federalism. Jefferson also bought the Lousiana Purchase which was highly significant. He believed in individual freedom and rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence. But as much as I knew prior to my research, I had a few questions that came to me during the research. I was curious as to why he owned slaves if he believed in individual freedom. Did he not accept women and slaves as a part of the Declaration of Independence? He did not mention them in the document as he only used the word "men" to refer to the people who had these rights. Also, if he was such a great leader, why did he join the secret society and why was it so classified? What was he thinking when he served as the vice-president to Adams who shared opposite beliefs when it came to government? The current president of the United States of America gets a lot of criticism as Jefferson did during his second time as a president. Would Jefferson agree with President Bush? In the resources I used for my research gave a load of information about his philosophy in governing. But they only mentioned the fact that he established the University of Virginia. What was the purpose behind the founding of the school?


 * Why did he decided to establish an educational institution (University of Virginia)?**

=Timeline of Thomas Jefferson's Life:=

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=Primary sources:=

Documents: [|Declaration of Independence] [|"The Farm Book" - diary entries of thomas jefferson] [|Rights of British America]

Quotes: [|Ideas on education] [|Thomas Jefferson's first inaugrial address] [|Various quotes of Thomas Jefferson] [|"The nation hates us"]