Thomas Jefferson held the moral and social compass for the American Founding Fathers. Raised to be a plantation owner, Jefferson fought for what he believed in, and for what he thought America needed the most, freedom. He believed in the country and believed that any great country should have great core standards. Jefferson worked hard to implement these, and to make Americas core strong. Without Jefferson things may have played out much differently for the country we call America.
When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.
Jefferson's home and joy, Monticello.
Effect
Jefferson presented elegance, grace, and ideology to the Declaration of Independence, and crafted it in such a meticulous and professional manner, it should be considered a piece of art. Thomas Jefferson in himself was a Virginian gentleman who stood proud for what he believed in, and worked hard to get results. He was a driving force and moral compass behind everything that got done early on in the American Revolution, because he believed America was unique. For these very reasons he worked to help make America the huge cross continental country it is today. Jefferson's religious and moral convictions are evident and they helped to give America the rights that she has today.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Click to Enlarge, Jefferson Working on Declaration of independence
When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Biography
Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 into rather blessed circumstances. Son of a plantation owner, descendant of royalty, and gifted student, Thomas Jefferson did not have a difficult or particularly note-worthy early life. He grew up studying hard, playing violin, and reading, which were his favorite past times. Jefferson studied under two reverends growing up, and later went to William and Mary's College in Virginia. He was often shocked and dismayed at the lack of studying his fellow classmates did, and disapproved of their other activities. Jefferson left the college to study law under George Wythe, as it was custom at the time for lawyers-to-be to study under a already established lawyer. Thomas Jefferson, who studied for an especially long period of time and after 5 years, passed the bar an already experienced attorney in 1767. His patience showed through and he excelled in the field of law, winning nearly every single case he argued. Jefferson was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768. His law practice went on from 1767 to 1774. During his practice he fell in love with Martha Skeleton, and they married on the first day of the year 1772. As a member of the House of Burgesses, Jefferson joined Henry and Washington as the more radical members of the House, and Jefferson quickly became apparent as the largest advocate of an independent America. 1775 Jefferson participated in the Second Continental Congress that made fellow Virginian, George Washington, the commander-in-chief. Thomas Jefferson was the member of this Congress from Virginia who did most of the work. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson crafted one of the most beautiful pieces of art known to man, the Declaration of Independence. From 1776 to 1779 Jefferson revised the laws of Virginia to insure they all matched the new American ideals. During the next two years he served a rather rough two terms as Governor of Virginia. He retired to private life until the death of his wife which he followed with a return back to the political arena. In 1785 he left to France, replacing Benjamin Franklin as the Minister to France. Jefferson despised the experience, saying that "I find the general fate of humanity here, most deplorable." and upon coming home saying "My God! how little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy." Thomas Jefferson came home to learn that he had been appointed Secretary of State to a new government. He remained at this post, growing ever frustrated by political disputes between his Republican and Hamilton's Federalist party. Thomas retired to his home in 1794 where he likely had an affair with his slave Sally Hemings. Hamilton returned to public eye when he became vice president to John Adams in 1797, although he was mostly kept out of the loop by Adams during this time. In 1800 and again in 1804 Hamilton won the presidency, marking the first time power had ever peaceably shifted from one party to another. His presidency was a whopping success, in these he doubled the size of the country and removed a quarter of our nation's debt. Jefferson retired to the privacy of Monticello on March 4, 1809. Thomas opened the doors of the University of Virginia on March 7, 1825, a day he called one of the proudest moments of his life. Jefferson died in Monticello on July 4, 1776.
A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.