Thomas Jefferson symbolizes the promise and contradictions of America's historical heritage. As the third president of the United States, diplomat, plantation owner, architect, scientist, and philosopher, he is one of the most important figures in American history. Thomas Jefferson's writings are more significant today than ever in American history. You might reach into your pocket, pull out a dime, and find him looking away. Jefferson was born on April 13 (April 2, Old Style), 1743, on Shadwell, the most important of the tobacco plantations owned by his father Peter Jefferson, in the Virginia interior. An intelligent, though educated man, Peter Jefferson became a successful surveyor, landowner, and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses of Albemarle County. His wife Jane Randolph, a member of one of Virginia's most distinguished families. As a child, he fully enjoyed the advantages of his family's social position: the books, the horses, and the good life of the "Big Houses" in Tuckahoe and Shadwell. When his father died, he left his fourteen-year-old son not only valuable lands and property, but also the legacy of Virginia's wealth, as well as loving, thoughtful advice. Thomas did not formally study; he studied at the venerable Mr. Maury's school, not far from Shadwell. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay After two years, in the spring of 1760, he left his native Albemarle to attend William and Mary College. Jefferson appears to enjoy the party scene: the music, the dancing, the flirting, and the drinking punch. After graduating from William and Mary in the spring of 1762, Jefferson studied law for five years under George Wythe. Knowledge of the law is essential to understanding government procedures. He became a successful lawyer by starting his career. When Jefferson turned thirty he began his political career. In January 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton. After they married, they moved to Monticello, not far from his old home in Shadwell, which had been destroyed by fire in 1770. Jefferson arrived in Philadelphia in June 1775 as Virginia's delegate to the Second Continental Congress; he already had it, as John Adams observed. "A reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent for composition." When he returned later, he was appointed to the five-man committee, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Which is the most important assignment ever given in the history of America: the drafting of a formal declaration of independence from Great Britain. Jefferson was responsible for preparing the draft, and it was finally approved on July 4, 1776. By the age of thirty-three, his reputation had grown. Returning to the Virginia House of Delegates in October 1776, Jefferson immediately set to work on a carefully planned reform of Virginia's laws. He introduced a bill to reorganize the courts of justice. Jefferson made the most of the opportunity to modernize the body of law. He examined the entire field of education and proposed a systematic plan of education at the state level. He attempted to insert religious toleration into Virginia laws by separating church and state; when the "Bill for Establishing Religious Liberty" was finally passed in 1785, he considered it an important contribution to American society. In June 1779 he was elected governor of Virginia. Jefferson assumed his duties at a time when the British were raiding Virginia; having control of the sea, they could send out raiding parties to capture food and ammunition anddestroy. Jefferson himself escaped capture at the hands of Colonel Tarleton's troops. In June 1781 he injured his wrist and was unable to ride for some time. During this period he wrote to the Marquis de Marbois, secretary of the French legation in Philadelphia. The observations that Jefferson had been making for years about the surrounding country, its climate, its natural beauty, minerals, waterways, agriculture and government. The manuscript was later the Notes of Virginia. In September 1782, Jefferson's wife died, having been ill since the birth of their last daughter. Shortly thereafter, in June 1783, the Virginia General Assembly elected Jefferson as a delegate to the Confederation Congress, where he again led important committees, drafted personal reports, and drafted official documents. Here he criticized the proposed monetary system and provided, in his “Notes on the Establishment of a Monetary Unit,” a valid coinage system to take its place. He drew up a plan for the Temporary Government of the Western Territory or the Northwest Territory Ordinance, stressing the importance of equality between the original and new states and attempting to exclude slavery from all territories. Jefferson was appointed minister plenipotentiary of the United States to assist Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, on May 7, 1784. Jefferson entered the European scene where diplomacy and society, arts and sciences, revolution and love would provide him with the richest years of his life. In 1785, upon Franklin's departure for America, Jefferson was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France. In January 1794, it was the fruits of once being a private, free man, able to read, write and appreciate music that he retired. In the few months of retirement Jefferson began to supervise the agriculture of his estates and designed a plow, which revolutionized agriculture. He also read in his library and wrote to friends. After three years of retirement, Jefferson was drafted in 1796 to run for president and accepted it. He ran against John Adams and lost but became the vice president. After Adams' term, Jefferson ran for president again against Aaron Burr. Jefferson's second term, an impatient John Randolph of Roanoke did not like Jefferson's methods in dealing with the Federalists. Rejecting Jefferson's policies involving territorial disputes with Spain, he led a small but strong team of anti-administration Republicans in the House of Representatives. At the end of Jefferson's second term, Jefferson reopened his campaign for a general education system in Virginia. Jefferson was convinced that the institution could represent the greatest achievement in a life dedicated to the belief that truth sets men free. The institution or State University for Virginia was the first American university to have no official ties to the church. The University of Virginia was Jefferson's daily concern during his last seven years. He selected books for the college library, wrote its programs, designed the buildings, and supervised their construction. The University opened in 1825 the winter before Jefferson's death. Jefferson continued to perform a multitude of other duties. In his eightieth year he wrote about politics, sending President Monroe long expositions later known as the Monroe Doctrine. Jefferson's life had been rich and profound, astonishing in its complexity, rewarding to his family, his friends, his fellow citizens, and to America. Jefferson died ten days before the fiftieth anniversary of American independence, on July 4, 1826. Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a.