... authorizing the first General Assembly meeting at Jamestown in 1619 was for "the better establishment of a commonwealth here." From 1649 to 1660, England and Virginia did not have a king. Instead, the Puritans ruled over a Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. The government was called the Commonwealth of England. This ... old name of government (Commonwealth of England) was no longer suitable. The delegates to the convention in Williamsburg, when the first Constitution of Virginia was adopted on June 29, 1776, used commonwealth as the name for the new form of government. It is likes they h...

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• Grade Level: High School

... Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 on the Shadwell plantation just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born into one of Virginia's most prominent families that were part of Virginia's planter elite (Jefferson, 2013). The planter elite was considered the highest class of people in the South ... the government to include Minister to France and Security of State before leaving public service to tend to his family and plantation in Monticello, Virginia in January 1794. It was not until 1797 when Jefferson returned to public service as the nations second Vice Presi...

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... John Marshall was chosen as lieutenant for the Culpeper Minute Men. He finished out the war as a member of a detail from the Light Infantry of Virginia under the control of Major Henry Lee. Both father and son fought a number of battles together, such as little Bunker Hill, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth ... to the Ambler girls, especially Mary. The two were married on January 3rd, 1783. At this time, Marshall was a member of the bar in Virginia, as well as of the Legislature. Soon after their marriage his wife became an invalid, but Marshall stayed true to her, until her death on D...

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... James Madison managed to shape and create many pieces of government documents that would forever change America such as the United States Constitution, Virginia Constitution, Virginia Plan, Checks and Balances, Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights. Madison served not only one but two terms as the ... He attended college at Princeton University in 1771 and is the first graduate student ever. After college, Madison came back home and joined the Virginia Militia as a Cornel because of the rising tensions between America and Britain. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison met in 1776 and c...

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... position as a leading planter, Jefferson was expected to take part in the colonial government, and with that notion he was elected into the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" ... of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786. Jefferson made this statement, "I was the pen of the American Revolution, .....

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... most influential leaders of his time. He was fourth chief justice of the United States and Congressman from his native state of Virginia. John Marshall was born in Germantown, Fauquier County, Virginia on September 24, 1755. Both parents, while not formally educated, were considered adequately educated for the times and could read ... be a lawyer. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, Marshall joined a company of state militia that became part of the Eleventh Regiment of Virginia Troops and was chosen Lieutenant and the captain. John Marshall studied law at the College of William an...

• Word Count: 739
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• Grade Level: High School

... Fredericksburg. James was the oldest of 12 children. The families of his father, James Madison, and his mother, Nelly Conway Madison had settled in Virginia during the 1600's. Many slaves worked on the Madison plantation. James was always a sickly child. He studied with private tutors and attended the Donald ... provided local government in the days that the British colonial government was crumbling. In 1776, Madison helped draft a new Virginia constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Other colonies later drew upon these documents in writing their own constitutions. Madison ...

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... Apollo Room of Williamsburg's famous Raleigh Tavern in 1769 and formed a no importation agreement against Britain. He was chosen to attend the First Virginia Convention, where delegates were elected to the First Continental Congress. He became ill and was unable to attend the meeting, but forwarded a message ... arguing that the British Parliament had no control over the colonies. Jefferson attended the Second Virginia Convention in 1775 and was chosen as one of the delegates to the Second Continental Congress. The Declaration of Independence written by Jefferson in ... . Jefferson looke...

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... vidtories, he continued to maintain his dignity and respect for his superiors. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. The Washington were of wealthy English decent and made their home along the ... the French. Braddock was attacked by the French at the Monongahela River and even though Washington was extremely ill he attempted to get his Virginia troops together to assist Braddock. This act helped out Washington for his future career tremendously. In 1758, Washington left the army and...

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... a surveyor, securing (1748) an assignment to survey the Fairfax's lands in the Shenandoah Valley. He played a major role in planning out the Virginia town of Belhaven in 1749 and then got the position as surveyor for Culpepper County. George and his brother went to Barbados in an effort rid ... (1754-63), which showed to be opportunities for Washington to get ahead in life. He first gained publicity when, as adjutant of one of Virginia's four military districts, he was sent (October 1753) by Gov. Robert Dinwiddie on a fruitless mission to warn the French commander at Fort ... action on...

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... was the beginning of England's successful colonization of America. It was: • the First Permanent English Colony on the North American continent • the first seat of English government in Virginia and its social and political center for 92 years • where the first English representative government in the New World met in 1619, the foundations of our form of government ... today • at Jamestown that the first arrival of Africans to Virginia was recorded, although they actually landed at Cape Comfort. Sir Thomas West, Lord de la Warr (or "de la Warre"), was born in July 9, 1577. In 16...

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... the College of William and Mary and then studied law with George Wythe. In 1769 he began six years of service as a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses. The following year he began building Monticello on land inherited from his father. The mansion, which he designed in every detail, ... to abolish primogeniture became a law in 1785. In June 1779 the introduction of Jefferson's bill on religious liberty touched on a subject that caused controversy in Virginia for 8 years. At this time no other state or nation had religious freedom. Jefferson's bill stated, "That all men shall ...

• Word Count: 1122
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• Grade Level: High School

... on which America was built. His powerful beliefs influenced many leaders, including presidents, to pursue his way of life. Thomas Jefferson held many government positions. He was first a lawyer in Virginia. Jefferson was also a member of the Continental Congress before America was a free nation. At the age of thirty-three he was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence which ... himself became President from 1801 to 1809. Not only was he a politician, he was a scientist, diplomat agriculturist, architect, philosopher, educator, and inventor (Meltzer 13). He also founded the...

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... skill upon the violin." (Encyclopedia) At this time during his college years attending William and Mary "Thomas read law with George Wythe, the greatest law teacher of his generation in Virginia." (Biography, p.1) "Thomas then graduated in 1762 with the highest honors of the institution." (Timeline) "After graduation Thomas stayed on in Williamsburg and was inducted into the practice of the Law ... returned back to Shadwell due to the Stamp Act Crisis." In 1769 Jefferson was admitted to the bar of the General Court of Virginia. In May he took his seat as the representative from Albemarl...

• Word Count: 1135
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• Grade Level: High School

... of the founding fathers of our nation. He became the third President of the United States. Thomas signed the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Thomas Jefferson was a man that was gifted in so many things ranging from writing to architecture showing great leadership abilities ... has today were made possible by Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, which is now a small town outside of Albemarle County, Virginia. He was born on April 13, 1743. He was born next to a mountain that was very near where his future home would be. ... ...

• Word Count: 1012
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... of the founding fathers of our nation. He became the third President of the United States. Thomas signed the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Thomas Jefferson was a man that was gifted in so many things ranging from writing to architecture showing great leadership abilities ... has today were made possible by Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, which is now a small town outside of Albemarle County, Virginia. He was born on April 13, 1743. He was born next to a mountain that was very near where his future home would be. ... ...

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... have contributed to our society in many ways. George Washington was the very first president of the U.S. He was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He was one of 10 children in an aristocrat family. They grew tobacco and prepared lumber. He received his education at a churchyard school and then ... three years later to what is thought to be strep throat (George). Thomas Jefferson was the third president. He was born April 13, 1743 in Virginia. His dad was a successful surveyor and his mother was from an upper class family. He inherited land from his father and began building Monticel...

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... Inherited 11,000 acres & 135 slaves from father-in-law. 1775 Elected to Continental Congress 1776 Drafted Declaration of Independence Mother died. Elected to Virginia House of Delegates. 1779-81 Served as Governor of Virginia 1782 Wife died. First house finished. 1783 Elected delegate to Congress 1784-89 In France as Commissioner & Minister 1787 Published Notes on the State ... 1809 Retired from presidency & public life. Remodeling of Monticello. 1815 Sold 6,700 volume library to Congress. 1817 Cornerstone of Central College (University of Virginia) laid. 1824 Historic reunion with Marq...

• Word Count: 467
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... country. He was a founder of the Democratic Party, and became one of the leading American architects of his time and designed the Virginia Capitol, the University of Virginia, and his own home, Monticello. Jefferson had a good-humored nature and was multi-lingual. He spoke French, Italian, Spanish, Greek ... man of the people", which won the support of many. (This group later became known as the Democratic Party.) Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia in 1743. In 1760, when he was 16, he entered the College of William and Mary. In 1776 Thomas Jefferson was appointed to draft ... 33 Jeffe...

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... by his anti-British philosophies. This also brought about a fight for the separation of church and state. The separation went smoothly except for Virginia, which held out until 1786 when Jefferson, and his following of freethinkers, passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Out of the new religious freedoms granted by Jefferson grew the question of egalitarianism in the colonies. Are humans ... called for the abolition of the slave trade. And many northern states followed and even went further to completely abolish slaves and slowly emancipate them. However, no state south of V...

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... Kings are the servants not the proprietors of the people." B. became involved in politics 1769, Jefferson elected as member of the House of Burgesses. June 1775 sent as one of Virginia's delegate to the second continental congress. 1779 became governor replacing Patrick Henry Vowed not to be involved in government in 1782 after the death of his wife. C. Major contributions, ... papers such as, the rejection of a proposal of conciliation from Great Britain's Prime minister. Starting June 11th and for 2 weeks Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Upon returning to Virginia he la...

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... , Linda and Rosteck, Kay 250) 7. Thomas Jefferson writes a summary view of The Rights of British America in 1774. (Watts 51) 2 8. Thomas Jefferson was a member of the Committee of Correspondence in Virginia in 1774. (www.HistoryChannel.com) 9. Thomas Jefferson was elected to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775, which was adjourned in 1776. (Miller 1) 10. Thomas Jefferson writes The Declaration ... of Independence in 1776. (Brown 243) 11. Thomas Jefferson was appointed governor of Virginia in 1779. (Schmittroth & Rosteck 249) 12. Martha Jefferson dies in 1782 along wit...

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... have crowned him with the simple title "Father of His Country."" George Washington was born in 1732 in the small town of Pope's Creek, Virginia. Unlike Adams and Jefferson, Washington lacked a formal education, for he received most of his schooling from his father and, after his father's ... Lawrence. Washington's political and military career began as early as 1754 when he participated in the French and Indian War as a leader of a Virginia regiment. During his service under the British army, Washington started developing revolutionary concepts. It was during this time that, "Washington ...

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... , were also very different from each other as well. The Alien and Sedition Acts enacted by the Federalists in 1798 as well as the Jeffersonians" response to this -- called the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, also in 1798, display the type of immaturity that was going on between the two political parties at the. As they struggled to grasp onto their distinctive ... and beliefs, the Federalists and Jeffersonians both engaged in somewhat experimental behavior in 1798 with the enactment of such acts as the Alien and Sedition Acts as well as the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions in order t...

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... Island. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was given to the National Park Service and became part of the National Monument. Monticello Architect: Thomas Jefferson Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Date: 1768-1782 Building Type: Colonial House Construction System: Brick Masonry Climate: Warm Temperature Rural Context: Colonial Georgian Fact: Remodeled between 1796-1808 Notes: Monticello is the ... formations of the heart of the Black Hills region are also evident at Mount Rushmore, including large outcrops of granite and mica schist. Arlington National Cemetery Architect: Location: Arlington...

• Word Count: 3266
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• Grade Level: High School