Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

Classroom Activity: The Declaration of Independence Timeline

The full text of The Declaration of Independence with audio 

Before beginning the activities, write down at least two things you already know about Thomas Jefferson. Then, write down at least two things you wonder about Thomas Jefferson. Once you've finished the resource kit, come back and right down at least two things you've learned about Thomas Jefferson. 

Know - Wonder - Learn: Thomas Jefferson

Click through to learn more about the process writing the Declaration of Independence and what it means

The Declaration of Independence -- Annotated

Explore John Trumbull's engraving of the Declaration of Independence. 

The Declaration of Independence in Historical Memory 

Use this worksheet to create a biography of Thomas Jefferson

Biography of Thomas Jefferson worksheet

Before his death, Thomas Jefferson left explicit instructions regarding the monument to be erected over his grave. In this undated document, Jefferson supplied a sketch of the shape of the marker, and the epitaph with which he wanted it to be inscribed:

"... on the faces of the Obelisk the following inscription, & not a word more:

Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence
of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom
& Father of the University of Virginia

"because by these," he explained, "as testimonials that I have lived, I wish most to be remembered."

In this slideshow, you will learn more about Jefferson's three greatest accomplishments. 

Thomas Jefferson's Three Greatest Achievements

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

A Timeline of Thomas Jefferson's Life

Many words describe Thomas Jefferson. He is best remembered as the person who wrote the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. He was also a lawyer, scientist, enslaver, writer, Governor, Vice-President, Philosopher, Architect, Father, and Revolutionary. 

In this resource kit, you will learn more about the life of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. This resource kit will take between 60 - 90 minutes to complete. Additional resources are included in some activities for further investigation.

For more information or to offer feedback, please email digital.learning@monticello.org.

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Life of Thomas Jefferson_ MDL Monticello Educator Overview .pdf

Declaration of Independence Transcription.pdf

https://create.kahoot.it/profiles/e18b7391-4860-4383-9dec-4d9633174be2

https://edpuzzle.com/playlist/663bb2afd513e5aa8cadc2e

Biography of Thomas Jefferson worksheet.pdf

The Life of Thomas Jefferson

Civics and Government

Social Studies

U.S. History

Thomas Jefferson is considered the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, although Jefferson's draft went through a process of revision by his fellow committee members and the Second Continental Congress.

The Declaration announced America's separation from one of the world's most powerful empires: Britain.  Parliament's taxes imposed without American representation, along with King George III's failure to address or ease his subjects' grievances, made dissolving the "bands which have connected them" not just a choice, but an urgent necessity.  As the Declaration made clear, the "long train of abuses and usurpations" and the tyranny exhibited "over these States" forced the colonists to "alter their former system of Government."  In such circumstances, Jefferson explained that it was the people’s “right, it was their duty,” to throw off the repressive government.  Under the new "system," Americans would govern themselves.

Jefferson considered the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom among the three greatest accomplishments for which he wished “most to be remembered.”

The statute gives Virginians the right to choose their faiths without coercion and affirms the separation of church and state.

The statute was drafted by Jefferson in 1777 when he was part of a committee revising the Constitution of Virginia. It was passed in 1786. 

The bill was strongly supported by those who had suffered under the established church in colonial Virginia and who desired religious freedom and a separation of church and state. 

Jefferson was in France when he learned of the bill's passage, and had the Statute translated into French and Italian and distributed as widely as possible. The Statute would go on to play a critical role in the development of American religious freedom and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As James Madison explained, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom "is a true standard of Religious liberty: its principle the great barrier agst. usurpations on the rights of conscience. As long as it is respected & no longer, these will be safe."

Inscribed on his tombstone, this was one of the many ways Jefferson instilled a right to religious freedom in the formation of the new nation.

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. 

The cornerstone for the University was laid in October of 1817. Jefferson designed a plan for the "Academical Village", and the University of Virginia opened for students in 1825. 

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

The Life of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson's Three Greatest Achievements

Background Knowledge

Jefferson's Obelisk Grave Marker