Thomas Jefferson is known for many things. He drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as George Washington’s secretary of state and John Adams’ vice president, and became the third president of the United States in 1801 – 25 years after the document most closely associated with his legacy was adopted in 1776.
Jefferson wrote the inscription for his obelisk tombstone. Rendered in all capital letters, it lists the accomplishments for which he most wished to be remembered:
“Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the
Declaration
of
American Independence
of the
Statute of Virginia
for
Religious Freedom
and the father of the
University of Virginia”
As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, one of the three accomplishments he chose for his tombstone remains central to his legacy and the country.
Christa Dierksheide is the first director of the Center for the Study of the Age of Jefferson at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, which supports programs and people at the University of Virginia. The Jefferson expert reflected on his legacy.
“I think so many people believe that when the war with Britain ended in 1783, the revolution also ended,” she said. “But for Jefferson, it was a forever revolution. It had to be.
“Remembering, commemorating and interpreting the American Revolution – particularly on July 4 – was what defined America, what gave it its collective sense of self. Without what Jefferson called the ‘spirit of ’76,’ the nation would be pulled apart and possibly cease to exist.”
Jefferson, who founded UVA in 1819 and welcomed its first students in 1825, is also known for his many quotations. Dierksheide shared several of them to help UVA Today commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary with a multiple-choice quiz. Please note all spelling and punctuation are original to Jefferson’s writings. Can you supply the missing word in these famous passages?
