The American Revolution for Kids - Thomas Jefferson Illustration

The American Revolution for Kids - Thomas Jefferson

For Kids: Thomas Jefferson was a Virginia lawyer. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, the writer of the Declaration of Independence, a governor of Virginia, ambassador to France, Secretary of State under President George Washington (our 1st president), Vice President under John Adams (our 2nd president) and elected President of the United States in 1801, becoming our 3rd president. He served two terms.

While Thomas Jefferson served as President of the United States (our 3rd president), among other things, he acquired the Louisiana Purchase, which more than doubled the size of the county and opened the west to exploration and settlement, and sponsored Lewis and Clark, two famous American explorers.

You might say he had quite a successful career in politics. He was a wonderful orator. When he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, for example, he wrote it as if he was giving a speech.

He was also an inventor. His special interest was inventing new farm equipment. He also loved to surprise his dinner guests with fun foods like ice cream, and macaroni made with his macaroni machine.

He was a staunch believer in religious freedom.

And, in his later years, he founded, designed, and overlooked the construction of the University of Virginia.

He was happily married, had quite a few kids, and is considered one of America's Founding Fathers.

Thomas Jefferson was a voice for liberty. Yet at the time he wrote the Declaration of Independence stating that "all men are created equal", he owned 600 slaves.

Out of all his many achievements as diplomat, writer, inventor, architect, gardener, and politician, Thomas Jefferson requested that only three of his many accomplished be listed on his tomb at Monticello:

  • Author of the Declaration of American Independence

  • Author of the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom

  • And Father of the University of Virginia

Jefferson's Office at Monticello (interactive)

All about Jefferson

Liberty Kids - Conflict in the South, the Liberty Kids discover Thomas Jefferson owns slaves

Games, Interactives, Kids Sites about Thomas Jefferson

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson's Inventions

Other Famous People of the Revolutionary War for Kids