February 11th, 2003.
Thomas Jefferson lived from 1743-1826. In this time, Jefferson accomplished many great feats. Jefferson was a diplomat, architect, musician, scientist, inventor, founder of the University of Virginia and the President of the United States. Of these accomplishments Jefferson is best known as the author of the Declaration of Independence. During the end of the Enlightenment period (1651-1789). Jefferson was elected to the Second Congress to a committee of five in preparing the Declaration of Independence. This essay will prove that Thomas Jefferson's life and work in preparing the Declaration of Independence has stood the test of time as one of the greatest impacts during the enlightenment period. Jefferson's effect on America and its revolution as a country is unsurmountable. .
Jefferson's most important contribution to the Enlightenment Period was his composition of the Declaration of Independence. On June 7th Richard Henry Lee came forward with a plan for the colonies to separate from Britain. As Richard Henry Lee's idea was brought forward he was quoted as saying ".these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states". After appointed, Jefferson began working on the Declaration, Jefferson's first draft was considered to strong and a substitute was drafted which included much of Jefferson's original version. The draft began with a declaration of individual rights which would be received if the colonies were to separate from Britain. It then proceeded to conclude with the acts of tyranny in which George III committed. Jefferson's original idea was to cover two major areas. One two bring forth a strong legal argument which was supported by the tyrant acts of George III, secondly to affirm the belief in the natural rights of the people supported by the individual rights which would be received.