Description

Short video biography of Thomas Jefferson, the draftsman of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States. This biography includes information on Jefferson’s career and the important documents he authored.

Discussion Questions

• What do you think were Jefferson’s most important contributions to American history?
• Jefferson chose three things to be inscribed on his gravestone: 1) Author of the Declaration of American Independence, 2) author of the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and 3) the father of the University of Virginia. Why do you think he chose those three things?
• Why do you think Jefferson only freed a few select slaves upon his death and not all of them?
• If you were given the task of writing an important document like the Declaration of Independence, how would you respond?

Keywords: Thomas Jefferson, biography, famous freethinker, declaration of independence, religious freedom, University of Virginia