The Articles of Confederation are adopted

The Intolerable Acts

James Monroe serves as the fifth President of the United States

George Washington's second inauguration

British Troops surrender at Yorktown

Treaty of Paris Officially Ends the American Revolution War 

The French Revolution 

The Seven Years War/French and Indian War

The Passage of the Stamp Act 

The Sugar Act

Death of George Washington

The United States declares war on Great Britain, beginning the War of 1812

John Quincy Adams becomes the sixth President of the United States

The Battles of Lexington and Concord begin the American Revolution

Tea Act Passed

The First Continental Congress

Inauguration of John Adams as the second President of the United States

The War of 1812 ends with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent

James Madison serves as the fourth President of the United States

The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Massacre

George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States

The British occupy Washington, D.C. 

Use this timeline to learn more about Thomas Jefferson's life and fill in the biography of Thomas Jefferson worksheet. 

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, at his father's plantation of Shadwell in Virginia. 
His father was named Peter Jefferson. His mother was named Jane Randolph Jefferson. 

Thomas Jefferson is born. 

Thomas Jefferson's only published book was Notes on the State of Virginia. 

You can learn more about it here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/thomas-jefferson-and/jefferson-and-the-presidency/

Notes on the State of Virginia is published

Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's father, dies. Thomas Jefferson inherits his father's land and property. This included approximately 5,000 acres of land, including Shadwell and the Monticello mountain, as well as about 40 enslaved people. 

Peter Jefferson dies

Jefferson attends the College of William and Mary beginning at age 17 in 1760 for two years. Then, he studies law for five years with George Wythe in Williamsburg. 

Thomas Jefferson studies in Williamsburg from 1760 - 1767. 

Learn more about Jefferson and the University of Virginia here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/jefferson-s-three-greatest-achievements/the-university-of-virginia/

The cornerstone of the University of Virginia is laid 

Thomas Jefferson becomes one of the delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Thomas Jefferson is elected to the Continental Congress

Thomas Jefferson designed Monticello, which was built by enslaved workers. The "First Monticello," sometimes called "Monticello I," refers to the first version of the house, under construction between 1770 - 1796. 

Construction begins on Monticello

The United States purchased the Louisiana territory, including New Orleans, for $15 million from France in 1803. The acquisition of approximately 827,000 square miles would double the size of the United States.

The Louisiana Territory is purchased by the United States from France

Thomas and Martha Jefferson's oldest child, Martha, was born. She later married Thomas Mann Randolph and had twelve children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood. 

Martha Jefferson Randolph born

Thomas Jefferson died at the age of 83 at Monticello on July 4, 1826, fifty years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams, the second President of the United States and another signer of the Declaration of Independence, also died on July 4, 1826, at age 91 at his home in Massachusetts. 

Thomas Jefferson dies

Thomas and Martha Jefferson's fourth child, a daughter named Maria, is born. She later marries John Wayles Eppes, and has a surviving son, Francis Eppes. 

Maria Jefferson Eppes is born

Beverly Hemings was the oldest child of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson to live to adulthood. Beverly left Monticello with his sister Harriet around 1822 to live as a free man. Records of his life after Monticello have not been found. 

Beverly Hemings is born

Thomas Jefferson was 28 when he married 23-year-old widow Martha Wayles Skelton. They were married for ten years, and had six children together. Only two of their children lived to adulthood--their oldest child, Martha Jefferson Randolph, and their fourth child, Maria Jefferson Eppes. 

Thomas Jefferson marries Martha Wayles Skelton 

The Corps of Discovery completes its expedition in St. Louis and send word to Thomas Jefferson. 

Learn more here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/louisiana-lewis-clark/return-of-lewis-and-clark/

The Corps of Discovery returns to St. Louis

Thomas Jefferson served two one-year terms as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, from from June 2, 1779, until June 3, 1781. 

Thomas Jefferson begins his term as Governor of Virginia

Maria Jefferson Eppes was the youngest surviving daughter of Thomas Jefferson and his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. 

Maria Jefferson Eppes dies

Thomas Jefferson ends his term as Governor of Virginia

Harriet Hemings was the oldest daughter of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson to survive to adulthood. She was allowed to leave Monticello to live in freedom around 1822, along with her older brother Beverly. Records of her life after Monticello have not been found. 


Harriet Hemings is born

The Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, would travel approximately 8000 miles on a round trip journey that lasted until September 1806. 

Learn more here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/louisiana-lewis-clark/

The Lewis and Clark Expedition begins to journey west up the Missouri River

The Marquis de Lafayette arrived at Monticello on November 4, 1824 for a ten day visit during his tour of the United States. His reunion with Thomas Jefferson was quite emotional and memorable, according to eyewitness accounts. 

Read more about the visit here: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/lafayettes-visit-monticello-1824/

Enslaved man Israel Gillette was a witness to some important conversations between Jefferson and Lafayette: https://gettingword.monticello.org/people/israel-gillette-jefferson/



Reunion of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, died at home at Monticello after ten years of marriage. She is buried at Monticello. 

Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson dies

Thomas Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State under President George Washington from 1790 to 1793. 

Thomas Jefferson returns from France to serve as George Washington's Secretary of State

Following the destruction of the Library of Congress after the British occupation of Washington, D.C., Thomas Jefferson sold his collection of 6,707 books to Congress for $23,950. 
Learn more here: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/sale-books-library-congress-1815/

Thomas Jefferson sells his books to the Library of Congress

At the conclusion of his second term as President of the United States, and with the inauguration of the fourth President, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson retired from public life and returned to Monticello. 

Thomas Jefferson retires from public life

The enslaved woman Sally Hemings is born in 1773. The exact date and month is not known. Tradition holds that she is the child of Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson’s father, John Wayles, and Elizabeth Hemings, an enslaved woman. Sally Hemings will grow up enslaved at Monticello and have at least six children with Thomas Jefferson, her enslaver. 

Sally Hemings Born

Enslaved chef James Hemings was freed by Thomas Jefferson in 1796. 

You can learn more about James Hemings here: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/james-hemings/

James Hemings Freed

While serving a five year term as Minister, or ambassador, to France, Thomas Jefferson's task was to promote American interests, not only in France but throughout Europe. During his time in France, he travels throughout Europe, his approach to art, music, architecture, food, and wine changed.  The international experience broadened his outlook on science and politics, expanded his friendships, and molded his manners. Jefferson returned home a man transformed from Jefferson the Virginian into Jefferson the man of the world, envisioning an America true to its founding principles of self-government while rivalling the artistic, scientific, and cultural achievements of Europe.

Thomas Jefferson was initially accompanied by his daughter, Martha, and his enslaved chef, James Hemings. He was later joined in France by his daugher Maria, and her enslaved maid, Sally Hemings. 

Learn more about Jefferson's time in France here: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/minister-france/

Thomas Jefferson travels to France to become the United States' Minister to France

Thomas Jefferson served as Vice President of the United States under second President of the United States, John Adams. 

Learn more about Thomas Jefferson's time as Vice President here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/thomas-jefferson-and/jefferson-and-the-vice-presidency/

Thomas Jefferson begins his term as Vice President

Jefferson included the creation of the University of Virginia as one of three accomplishments for which he most wished to be remembered. Years after the end of his presidency, at the age of seventy-six, he spearheaded the legislative campaign for the university's charter, secured its location, designed its buildings, planned its curriculum, and served as its first rector. It was his last great public service. 

Learn more here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/jefferson-s-three-greatest-achievements/the-university-of-virginia/

The University of Virginia opens

Thomas Jefferson became the third President of the United States on March 4, 1801. 

Learn more about his presidency here: https://www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/thomas-jefferson-and/jefferson-and-the-presidency/

Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third President of the United States

Madison Hemings was the third child  and second surviving son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. 

Madison Hemings (1805-1877) was the second surviving son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Madison Hemings learned the woodworking trade from his uncle John Hemmings. He became free in 1827, according to the terms of Thomas Jefferson’s will. Hemings and his brother Eston left Monticello to live with their mother, Sally Hemings, in the town of Charlottesville.  Later, he settled with this wife and family in southern Ohio. In 1873, his recollections were recorded, and he named Thomas Jefferson as his father. He died in 1877. 

Read Madison Hemings' recollections here: https://www.monticello.org/slavery/slave-memoirs-oral-histories/recollections-of-madison-hemings/



Madison Hemings is born 

Eston Hemings was the youngest surviving child of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. 

Eston Hemings was the youngest son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Eston Hemings learned the woodworking trade from his uncle, John Hemmings, and became free in 1829, according to the terms of Thomas Jefferson’s will. He and his brother Madison left Monticello to live in the town of Charlottesville with their mother, Sally Hemings.  

In 1832, Eston Hemings married a free woman of color, Julia Ann Isaacs.  About 1838 they sold their property and moved to Chillicothe, OH, where Hemings led a very successful dance band.  He was remembered as “a master of the violin, and an accomplished ‘caller’ of dances.”  He and his wife and children later moved to Wisconsin, changing their surname to Jefferson and living from then on as white people. Eston Hemings died in 1856. 

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Standards for A Timeline of Thomas Jefferson's Life