The Autobiography Of Thomas Jefferson 1743 1790

In 1821, at the age of seventy-seven, Thomas Jefferson decided to "state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself." His ancestors, Jefferson writes, came to America from Wales in the early seventeenth century and settled in the Virginia colony. Jefferson's father, although uneducated, possessed a "strong mind and sound judgement" and raised his family in the far western frontier of the colony, an experience that contributed to his son's eventual staunch defense of individual and state rights. Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary, entered the law, and in 1775 was elected to represent Virginia at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, an event that propelled him to all of his future political fortunes. Jefferson's autobiography continues through the entire Revolutionary War period, and his insights and information about persons, politics, and events—including the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, his service in France with Benjamin Franklin, and his observations on the French Revolution—are of immense value to both scholars and general readers. Jefferson ends this account of his life at the moment he returns to New York to become secretary of state in 1790. Complementing the other major autobiography of the period, Benjamin Franklin's, The Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson, reintroduced for this edition by historian Michael Zuckerman, gives us a glimpse into the private life and associations of one of America's most influential personalities. Alongside Jefferson's absorbing narrative of the way compromises were achieved at the Continental Congress are comments about his own health and day-to-day life that allow the reader to picture him more fully as a human being. Throughout, Jefferson states his opinions and ideas about many issues, including slavery, the death penalty, and taxation. Although Jefferson did not carry this autobiography further into his eventual presidency, the foundations for all of his thoughts are here, and it is in these pages that Jefferson lays out what to him was his most important contribution to his country, the creation of a democratic republic.

During his remarkable lifetime, Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) served his country in many capacities, including as the third President of the United States. But ultimately, this gifted individual — an accomplished architect, naturalist, and linguist — wished to be remembered primarily as the writer of the Declaration of Independence. In this autobiography, begun in 1821 when the author was 77, Jefferson touches fleetingly upon his early years before focusing on the period during which he wrote the Declaration. This edition features a fascinating first draft of the document, in addition to Jefferson's comments on the Articles of Confederation. Other highlights include his firsthand observations on the early stages of the French Revolution, obtained while serving as Minister to France, as well as insights from his many other public roles: wartime Governor of Virginia, Washington's Secretary of State, and Vice President during the John Adams administration. This brief memoir provides a rare opportunity to share the reflections of a Founding Father as written in his own words.

Written in 1821, just five years before his death, Thomas Jefferson's Autobiography tells the story of the third president's childhood, political career and retirement. The third of ten children, Jefferson spent most of his childhood on his family farm with his father, a planter and surveyor. After his father's death in 1757, Jefferson inherited the famous Monticello, which he would take over at the age of 21. Serving in the Continental Congress at the start of the American Revolution, Jefferson soon moved to represent Virginia as wartime Governor in 1779. Just after the war ended, he served as a diplomat, stationed in Paris, and became the U.S. Minister to France in 1785. In 1790, he served as the first Secretary of State for President George Washington and was elected as Vice President to John Adams in 1796. Jefferson's autobiography touches on his rivalry with President Adams and his secret publishing of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions with James Madison. Following his election as the third U.S. President in 1801, Jefferson saw the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the expedition of Louis and Clark, and legislation that banned the importation of slaves to the United States. After his retirement from politics, Jefferson lived a quiet life in Monticello, frequently hosting guests of high political status who valued his opinions and ideas.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1790, Together With a Summary of the Chief Events in Jefferson's Life Declaration of Independence is given in full, and is probably the chief authority on the matter. In the later constitutional discussions, Jefferson placed himself with the group which contended that representation in Congress should be based upon population or on voters. He saw no reason why people should, by calling themselves a state, secure as large a representative power in the Govern ment as belonged to people. The jealousy and apprehensions Of the smaller states, such as Rhode Island and Delaware, that the Government might be entirely controlled by states like Pennsyl vania, Virginia, and New York proved, as we know, sufficient to secure an equal state representation in the Upper House of Congress. It was supposed that the evil of this disproportioned representation would at least be restricted to the original group Of states; but in comparatively recent history, we have seen a still greater inequity in the authority given to Nevada with inhabitants to control through its two senators, a decision of the Senate and through the Senate of the whole Government, in regard to a financial policy to which the great states of the country were Opposed. Jefferson was, in 1787, appointed U. S. Minister to Paris, and the latter portion of the Diary is taken up chiefly with his account of the beginnings Of the French Revolution and his analysis of the causes and events. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.