A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson

What I Learned Section 1 -- Answer the Following Questions:
1. When was Thomas Jefferson born?
April 13, 1743. Thomas Jefferson was born in a four-room wooden house in Shadwell, Virginia. He was the third of ten children. His parents were named Jane Randolph and Peter Jefferson. During this time, the United States had not been formed yet, and Virginia was one of the thirteen American colonies belonging to England. When Thomas Jefferson was sixteen years old, he attended the College of William and Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. After college, Thomas became a lawyer with the help of George Wythe. Did you know Thomas Jefferson was Governor of Virginia for two terms?

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2. What is the name of Thomas Jefferson's home?
Monticello. In 1767, Thomas Jefferson began building his home on a small mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia. He called it Monticello which is an Italian word meaning "little mountain." On New Year's Day, 1772, Thomas married Martha Wayles Skelton. They had a son and five daughters. Unfortunately, only two daughters lived to be adults. They were Martha ("Patsy") and Mary ("Polly").

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3. When did the American Revolutionary War begin?
April, 1775. The American Revolutionary War was fought between England and the American colonies. The colonies wanted to be free from England's rule. On April 19, 1775, British Redcoats and Colonial Minutemen met at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. There was confusion, and a shot was fired. It is known as "the shot heard around the world" because it was the beginning of the American Revolution, and the American Revolution had lasting effects around the world. On October 19, 1781, British Commander Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American General George Washington in Yorktown, Virginia. Two years later, on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed which recognized the independence of the colonies. The United States of America was born.

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4. Did Thomas Jefferson help write the Declaration of Independence?
Yes. In June, 1776, a year after the start of the American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress asked Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman to write the Declaration of Independence stating the colonies' reasons for fighting. One of these reasons was the idea that all people are created equal and have the right to be free: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence was adopted by all the colonies on July 4, 1776, and it contains some of the most famous and important words ever written, including the beginning, "When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another..."

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5. In what year was Thomas Jefferson elected President of the United States?
1800. Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. He was elected in 1800, and began his first term in 1801. Thomas was elected to a second term in 1804. In all, Thomas was President from 1801 to 1809. As President, Thomas bought land from France. The deal was known as the Louisiana Purchase, and the land was known as the Louisiana Territory. The Louisiana Territory consisted of the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States. Did you know after Thomas left the White House, he started the University of Virginia?

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What I Learned Section 2 -- Define the following words:
Library of Congress: The national library of the United States, located in Washington, D.C.

Monticello: Thomas Jefferson's home, meaning "little mountain"

House of Burgesses: Virginia legislature

Continental Congress: One of two legislative assemblies governing the American colonies during the American Revolution

Treaty of Paris of 1783: Treaty ending the Revolutionary War

U.S. Constitution: The system of laws governing the United States

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Bonus Questions (Answer 1 of the Following Questions for Your FREE Bookmark):
a. What happened to over ten thousand of Thomas Jefferson's books?
They were sold to the United States Congress. These books became an important part of the Library of Congress which was established in 1800. Today, the Library of Congress is the largest repository of recorded knowledge in the world and a symbol of the vital connection between knowledge and democracy. Did you know the Library of Congress acquired its 100 millionth item in 1992?

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b. What position did Thomas Jefferson hold in President George Washington's cabinet?
Secretary of State. In 1789, George Washington became the first President of the newly formed United States of America, and Thomas Jefferson was appointed the first Secretary of State. This meant Thomas would represent the U.S. in its dealing with other nations. Did you know Colin Powell is the Secretary of State in 2001? In 1797, Thomas Jefferson (a Democrat-Republican) became Vice President under John Adams (a Federalist) until 1801. Then he became President from 1801 to 1809.

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c. On what day did Thomas Jefferson die?
July 4, 1826. Thomas Jefferson died exactly fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was approved by the colonies. Did you know John Adams (the second U.S. President) also died on July 4, 1826? Not knowing Thomas Jefferson had died just hours before, John Adams whispered his last words: "Thomas Jefferson survives."

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d. Use five of the words in Section 2 in a sentence.
Answers will vary. Here are sample sentences from our young readers:
The Library of Congress has a copy of every book.

A picture of Monticello is on the back of the nickel.

Thomas Jefferson was a member of the House of Burgesses.

The Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution in 1783.

The preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins, "We the people…"

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e. Have a parent or friend give you a spelling test with EACH of the words in Section 2.

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More Valuable Information about Thomas Jefferson:
Thomas Jefferson Memorial (National Park Service)
Monticello: The Home of Thomas Jefferson
Biography (The White House)
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson Biography (The White House)

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