-Attended the College of William & Mary
-Learned from resident scholars
-Enjoyed music and dance
-Seeds of patriotism planted
- Published his views on rights of British America
-Served as Governor of Virginia
1. Student at the College of William & Mary
Thomas Jefferson — a serious-minded, freckled-faced boy of 16 from the rolling hills of Albemarle County, Virginia — first came to Williamsburg early in 1760 as a student at the College of William & Mary.
2. Seeds of freedom planted at the Capitol
Evidence of Jefferson’s maturing ideas of freedom and self-government surfaced at the Capitol. As a law student, he stood enraptured at the doorway of the House of Burgesses, listening to Patrick Henry speak out against the Stamp Act. As a burgess, Jefferson continued to promote the idea of revolution. As a lawyer, he practiced at the General Court. In 1770, he defended a slave. Despite owning slaves all his life, he spoke then against slavery, saying under the law of nature, “we are all born free.”
3. Wrote Summary View of the Rights of British America
In 1774, Jefferson set his pen to the first of many important documents he would write. From Monticello, he sent Patrick Henry and Peyton Randolph a copy of his proposed instructions for the Virginia delegates who were soon to ride to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. The document was published in Williamsburg by Clementina Rind, Virginia's only woman printer, under the title Summary View of the Rights of British America.
Peyton Randolph read the Summary View to a galaxy of Virginia patriots gathered in his home on Market Square. The document was too radical for some, but it moved all. Jefferson's pamphlet was reprinted in Philadelphia and in London and played a part in shaping the course of American self-rule. John Adams of Massachusetts said the Summary View gave Jefferson "the reputation of masterly pen" among Congressional delegates in 1776 and won for the Virginian the assignment of drafting the Declaration of Independence.
In 1774, Jefferson set his pen to the first of many important documents he would write. From Monticello, he sent Patrick Henry and Peyton Randolph a copy of his proposed instructions for the Virginia delegates who were soon to ride to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. The document was published in Williamsburg by Clementina Rind, Virginia's only woman printer, under the title Summary View of the Rights of British America.
Peyton Randolph read the Summary View to a galaxy of Virginia patriots gathered in his home on Market Square. The document was too radical for some, but it moved all. Jefferson's pamphlet was reprinted in Philadelphia and in London and played a part in shaping the course of American self-rule. John Adams of Massachusetts said the Summary View gave Jefferson "the reputation of masterly pen" among Congressional delegates in 1776 and won for the Virginian the assignment of drafting the Declaration of Independence.
4. Served as Governor of Virginia
In 1779, when he was Virginia's governor, Jefferson introduced a clarion call for freedom of worship in the form of the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom. The bill did not become law until 1786.
Jefferson's last association with Williamsburg was as governor in 1779 and 1780. These drab years saw Virginia's forces in the field hard pressed. As a resident of the Governor's Palace, Jefferson drew up several plans to modernize the structure. During this time, he must often have contrasted its wartime appearance and atmosphere with his memories of the days of Governor Fauquier. In April 1780, Jefferson moved with the government to Richmond, and Williamsburg stepped backstage in history.
In 1779, when he was Virginia's governor, Jefferson introduced a clarion call for freedom of worship in the form of the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom. The bill did not become law until 1786.
Jefferson's last association with Williamsburg was as governor in 1779 and 1780. These drab years saw Virginia's forces in the field hard pressed. As a resident of the Governor's Palace, Jefferson drew up several plans to modernize the structure. During this time, he must often have contrasted its wartime appearance and atmosphere with his memories of the days of Governor Fauquier. In April 1780, Jefferson moved with the government to Richmond, and Williamsburg stepped backstage in history.
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