Source: Jon Meacham. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (2012)
For most of the Colonial Elite, revolution was the most shrewd economic choice. The "Rich Eastern White Guys" were restricted from land speculation in the West, and (non-British) paper money was worthless. And, since Thomas Jefferson and the Eastern Elites were in debt (for TJ, it was hereditary debt plus his own), a revolution meant a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over.
TJ likened the debt of the Eastern Elites to being the property of the London creditors (George Washington
wholeheartedly agreed with that viewpoint). TJ believed that not making payments to London creditors was a type of boycott, which had become an accepted strategy of resistance to the Crown to many in the Colonies. It would be a rich man's revolution . . . the lower classes would be much slower to respond in kind. To the Jefferson and the Eastern Elites, separation from Britain representedtti an attractive economic and ideological future.
TJ likened the debt of the Eastern Elites to being the property of the London creditors (George Washington
wholeheartedly agreed with that viewpoint). TJ believed that not making payments to London creditors was a type of boycott, which had become an accepted strategy of resistance to the Crown to many in the Colonies. It would be a rich man's revolution . . . the lower classes would be much slower to respond in kind. To the Jefferson and the Eastern Elites, separation from Britain representedtti an attractive economic and ideological future.
On 19 May, 1774, a Virginia newspaper announced the Boston Port Act (it would be the first of "The Intolerable Acts"). TJ's "Summary View" in response was the first time an item that he wrote spread through the Colonies (and even to London). He didn't advocate separation; he expressed a desire to return to the way things were done before all the current hullaballoo. On 6 August, 1774, Washington paid for several copies of what he called "Jefferson's Bill of Rights"; TJ's "Summary View" moved TJ to the forefront of the brewing revolt in Virginia and beyond . . . it also placed him in a position to be among the few that could write a declaration concerning independence.
Jefferson was elected to the
2nd Continental Congress (an engraving is to the right) on 27 March, 1775 as the Colonies were drifting towards armed conflict with Britain. Lord Dunmore, the Colonial Governor of Virginia, confiscated gunpowder, which effectively denied Virginians their arms . . . he also threatened to emancipate Virginia's slaves if the scurrilous hoo-haw continued. As a result, Virginia and the 2nd C/C accelerated their preparations for war. TJ came of political age not from certitude, but from the rising conflict with King George III and Great Britain.
Jefferson was elected to the
2nd Continental Congress (an engraving is to the right) on 27 March, 1775 as the Colonies were drifting towards armed conflict with Britain. Lord Dunmore, the Colonial Governor of Virginia, confiscated gunpowder, which effectively denied Virginians their arms . . . he also threatened to emancipate Virginia's slaves if the scurrilous hoo-haw continued. As a result, Virginia and the 2nd C/C accelerated their preparations for war. TJ came of political age not from certitude, but from the rising conflict with King George III and Great Britain.
On 11 June, 1775, Jefferson left for Philadelphia and the 2nd Continental Congress; a larger world beckoned. TJ was reluctant to speak in public (like Washington), so therefore he held his tongue while the 2nd C/C was in session. The events of 7 November, 1775, would do much to produce the Declaration of Independence. Lord Dunmore declared martial law (from the ship in which he was hiding) in Virginia; he also decreed that any African slave that took up arms against the Colonies would be freed.
These declarations led to many neutrals becoming revolutionaries, at least in spirit. There was also the sense that the property of the Virginia Gentry would soon become the property of the British Crown. On 4 February, 1776, Jefferson read a copy of Thomas Paine's Common Sense . . . he agreed with most every one of Paine's tenets and concepts.
These declarations led to many neutrals becoming revolutionaries, at least in spirit. There was also the sense that the property of the Virginia Gentry would soon become the property of the British Crown. On 4 February, 1776, Jefferson read a copy of Thomas Paine's Common Sense . . . he agreed with most every one of Paine's tenets and concepts.
During the first week of June 1776, a motion to dissolve the union with Great Britain was made in the 2nd C/C. The motion focused on the practical domestic and international applications of independence. A vote was delayed until 1 July in order to get New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and South Carolina on board.
But the question was: who should write a draft of the declaration of independence . . .
John Adams said Jefferson should be the primary author (he based this assertion on a conversation he had with TJ two years prior). TJ thought Adams should write the declaration, but Adams stood his ground, and refused, and Jefferson agreed to write the draft (Adams & Franklin helped TJ edit the draft . . . Franklin suggested the term "Self-Evident"). Jefferson drafted the document for neutral Americans, soldiers in arms, and potential global allies. A satisfied TJ turned into a frustrated TJ when the 2nd C/C cut out about 1/4 of his draft, including negative clauses concerning the slave trade.
But the question was: who should write a draft of the declaration of independence . . .
John Adams said Jefferson should be the primary author (he based this assertion on a conversation he had with TJ two years prior). TJ thought Adams should write the declaration, but Adams stood his ground, and refused, and Jefferson agreed to write the draft (Adams & Franklin helped TJ edit the draft . . . Franklin suggested the term "Self-Evident"). Jefferson drafted the document for neutral Americans, soldiers in arms, and potential global allies. A satisfied TJ turned into a frustrated TJ when the 2nd C/C cut out about 1/4 of his draft, including negative clauses concerning the slave trade.
The Declaration of Independence was formally introduced to the 2nd Continental Congress on 28 June, 1776, and on 1 July, the debate started. Again, large portions of TJ's draft were cut, this time including a denunciation of slavery. TJ hated being edited by such a large group; he silently writhed in agony at suggestions of rewording or deleting passages. Jefferson took the proposed changes to the Declaration of Independence as attacks on him, not constructive criticism . . . which is a common trait with those that have incredible ambition, like Jefferson.
On 2 July, 1776, the 2nd C/C voted to adopt a resolution for independence from Great Britain, and on 4 July, they ratified the Declaration of Independence. Later, a jealous John Adams said the Declaration of Independence was a theatrical show, not a substantive document.
On 2 July, 1776, the 2nd C/C voted to adopt a resolution for independence from Great Britain, and on 4 July, they ratified the Declaration of Independence. Later, a jealous John Adams said the Declaration of Independence was a theatrical show, not a substantive document.
The Declaration of Independence was one of many things with which Jefferson was involved as a member of the 2nd Continental Congress. He faced daunting tasks that included dealing with real-or-imagined conspiracies, such as Loyalist plots and Native attacks in the frontier. TJ also wrote a proposed constitution for Virginia, and closely followed the debates concerning the Articles of Confederation.
Jefferson (like Theodore Roosevelt) saw politics as a kaleidoscope . . . loyalties and positions often changed . . . who was an enemy in the morning may be an ally in the afternoon. As a result of his experience in the 2nd Continental Congress, Jefferson was very knowledgeable on political methods and strategies. And, in the Fall of 1776, a 33 year-old Thomas Jefferson met, for the first time, the 25 year-old James Madison in the Virginia Assembly . . . their first battle together: Freedom of Religion in Virginia.
(Below: John Trumbull's revisionist painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. TJ and Trumbull were friends, which explains why TJ is the star of the painting . . . if you look closely, you'll see Jefferson stepping on the left shoe of John Adams, which was most likely Trumbull's idea, according to our Capitol Tour Guide in June, 2014)
Jefferson (like Theodore Roosevelt) saw politics as a kaleidoscope . . . loyalties and positions often changed . . . who was an enemy in the morning may be an ally in the afternoon. As a result of his experience in the 2nd Continental Congress, Jefferson was very knowledgeable on political methods and strategies. And, in the Fall of 1776, a 33 year-old Thomas Jefferson met, for the first time, the 25 year-old James Madison in the Virginia Assembly . . . their first battle together: Freedom of Religion in Virginia.
(Below: John Trumbull's revisionist painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. TJ and Trumbull were friends, which explains why TJ is the star of the painting . . . if you look closely, you'll see Jefferson stepping on the left shoe of John Adams, which was most likely Trumbull's idea, according to our Capitol Tour Guide in June, 2014)