If you are looking for a simple answer then the best way to describe the task of Thomas Jefferson is: writer. More specifically, he was a political and legal theorist whose greatest hour came with the writing of the Declaration of Independence. As our nation’s third president, Thomas Jefferson is most well known for authoring the Declaration of Independence, which was officially adopted on July 4, 1776, as our country was emerging from the grip of King George III.
The history of this extraordinary document is often overshadowed by the well-known grievances against King George, yet more than 200 years later, the Declaration of Independence is more relevant to our lives than ever before. It is still used as a guide for social and political change across the world. Perhaps that is because it articulates a simple yet profound truth; all humans are born equal.
A Radical New Idea
At the time of its adoption in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was a radical new idea. Up until that point, the colonies had largely been governed by monarchs and their appointed councils. Now, they were to have a say in how they governed themselves. Furthermore, for the first time in American history, a document was going to be used as a legal basis for demanding political independence.
The adoption of the Declaration of Independence was a turning point in the history of the United States. It opened the door for a whole new way of thinking about government and self-determination. King George was opposed to the Declaration of Independence and went so far as to try and have it rescinded. Fortunately for us, his opposition was for naught and the King George Ill has been the subject of many paintings and poems ever since, immortalizing his defeat.
A Nation Is Born
On July 4, 1776, the United States of America were born into the world as an independent nation. Although the war had not yet been won, the writing was on the wall. King George had been overthrown and the world had changed forever. With the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War had been won and the United States had become an independent nation.
Thomas Jefferson was at the forefront of this great moment in our history. A former minister and university professor, he had been opposed to British rule and the war that had been fought to overthrow it. Now, he was responsible for writing the blueprint for our nation, which would later be known as the Declaration of Independence, a document that would go on to become one of the most influential political documents of all time.
The signing of the Declaration of Independence was followed by great celebrations across the country. Many people were in favor of adopting the European model of government and setting up a governing council with a king or queen at its head. Yet, in spite of this, Jefferson and many other founding fathers believed that the American form of government established in the Revolution could serve as an example for the rest of the world.
Why Did Thomas Jefferson Want To Be President of the United States?
When Thomas Jefferson was young, he had a clear vision of what he wanted to do in life – he wanted to be president of the United States. He spent much of his time as a teenager studying the American constitution and the role of the president. He also read a lot of history, particularly of England and the English monarchy. He truly believed that he was born to be a president and he would use whatever power he could to make it happen.
In 1776, at the age of 34, Jefferson was elected the third president of the United States of America. He served as the leader of our country for the next two years during a time of tremendous growth and change. His vision for America was a strong one and he worked tirelessly to make it a reality. The most famous work of his administration was the Declaration of Independence, which he wrote while serving as president.
The Role of Slavery In the Declaration of Independence
The role of slavery in the Declaration of Independence is often overlooked, particularly in light of the fact that Jefferson owned many slaves himself. However, it is a critical part of the narrative. Without the enslavement of millions of African Americans, the American Revolution would not have been possible. It was through the enslavement of blacks that Jefferson was able to accumulate the wealth that he and his colleagues sought to liberate the country from.
When Jefferson was a boy, his father owned a plantation in Virginia. There, he grew up surrounded by poverty and racial tensions. He witnessed many acts of violence and discrimination against African Americans first hand. One of his brothers was killed by a black man in a fit of rage over an altercation that stemmed from Jefferson not choosing to intervene when his brother was mugged by a black man. There is no indication that Jefferson ever forgave himself for this tragic event. The seeds were sown that would later blossom into the glorious Revolution that freed America from British tyranny. Without the contributions of slavery, there would be no United States of America today, as the Revolution would not have been possible – it was the combination of the two that made the Revolution possible.
The American Dream
In 1856, 56 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a Scottish-born man named Andrew Carnegie wrote a famous essay called The Gospel of Wealth. In it, he states: “The gospel of wealth is the gospel which everybody wants to hear, and which nobody can refute. It is an easy and comfortable gospel to believe in, because everybody wants to believe in it. It is a wonderful gospel to preach, because it brings a golden harvest to those who preach it.”
Carnegie was right about the American Dream. In 1776, only a few could imagine what the future would look like. Many did not even believe that it was possible to be free of the bonds of an absolute monarchy. Yet, here we are, more than 200 years later, and the American Dream has come true. We have a Constitution, written by the founders who led the American Revolution, that protects the rights of individuals and communities. We have a government that is responsive to the needs of the people and that works for the benefit of all, not just the wealthy. We have elections that allow for a peaceful change of power, replacing a head of state when their time has come. We have a vibrant democracy, where everyone is free to voice their opinion and participate in shaping the community around them.
The history of the United States is one of perseverance and triumph. It is a nation that continues to be defined by its capacity for innovation and reform. The story of the American Revolution is, at its core, the story of an idea whose time had come – a dream that had turned into reality. No other nation can claim the same.