Thomas Jefferson s Decisions On Policy - 843 Words

Thomas Jefferson has been portrayed as many things, President, philosopher, slave owner, writer, the list is actually quite long. However, many overlook the point that he was the first authentic public servant in the United States. His actions, his dedication, his choices were largely based on his desire for the United States to succeed, not political, financial, or status gain. This paper will provide a background and biographical information on Thomas Jefferson and discuss Jefferson s selfless decisions on policy, which at times conflicted with his own convictions. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. The third of ten children of Peter and Jane Jefferson. As a child, Thomas admitted his disdain for manual labor and spent hours reading. His father lacked formal education, but Thomas describes his father as eager to learn and read in order to further his own education. Peter Jefferson was a well known and respected surveyor having created the first accu rate map of Virginia. Thomas makes very little mention of his mother, Jane, and some scholars believe she had very little, if any, impact on Thomas s life. When Thomas turned five, he started his education of English and by nine, begun studying Latin. His teacher, a Scottish Presbyterian minister Rev. Douglas, also taught him French. Although not a classic scholar, Thomas studied under Rev. Douglas until his death. Upon Douglas s death, Thomas then boarded with Rev. James Maury, a moreShow MoreRelatedThe United States Of The Declaration Of Independence1486 Words   |  6 PagesAdams, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. The founding fathers were a group of men who were sick and tired of the abuse and mistreatment of the British soldiers in the 1700’s. 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