Encyclopedia
A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge
Jefferson's "Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" was his most enduring work on the subject of education.
Politics
Articles on Jefferson's political career and public life.
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![Printed version of Jefferson's "A Bill for the more general diffusion of Knowledge"]()
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![Portrait of James Madison by Gilbert Stuart circa 1805-1807; image courtesy Bowdoin College Museum of Art; Bequest of the Honorable James Bowdoin III.]()
StoryA Dynamic Duo: Jefferson and Madison
Thomas Jefferson had an enemy in Alexander Hamilton, a frenemy in John Adams, and his BFF in James Madison.
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![Portrait of Aaron Burr by John Vanderlyn, showing the then Vice President in a side view looking to his left, balding with slightly graying hair, wearing a dark coat and a high-collared white shirt tied round with a fine white neckerchief.]()
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr was a controversial Founding Father, best known for his rivalries with both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, losing the Presidency to the former and killing the latter in a duel.
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![Half-length painting of Albert Gallatin at 42 years old, balding with brown hair, brown eyes, and hawk nose, looking slightly right and wearing a dark coat and white neckerchief.]()
Albert Gallatin
The Swiss immigrant who orchestrated Jefferson's presidential election, served as Secretary of the Treasury longer than anyone, and provided sage guidance to four presidents.
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![Fort Astoria, 1813. Earliest known illustration of Fort Astoria, by Gabriel Franchere, employed by John Jacob Astor, Courtesy Oregon Historical Society Research Library.]()
EncyclopediaAstoria
Founded by John Jacob Astor with Jefferson's support, Fort Astoria, Oregon was the first American settlement west of the Rockies.
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![Printed version of Bill 64, "A Bill for proportioning Crimes and Punishments, in cases heretofore Capital."]()
EncyclopediaBill 64
Thomas Jefferson was likely the chief architect of Bill 64 that aimed to end capital punishment for most crimes but also included a revolting principle.
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![Caesar Rodney shown in bust-length proper right profile. Subject in black coat with high collar, lapel and two buttons, a jabot and neck stock. Hair in queue and hanging to shoulders. Image in form of circular medallion. At bottom, inscribed Drawn and engraved by S.t Memin Philada]()
Caesar Augustus Rodney
Caesar Augustus Rodney, nephew of Founding Father Caesar Rodney, was a Delaware lawyer and politician whom Jefferson appointed as the Attorney General of the United States in 1807.
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David Stone
David Stone was a Democratic Republican lawyer, legislator, and judge from North Carolina who supported President Jefferson's policies.
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De Witt Clinton
De Witt Clinton was a state legislator, U.S. senator, and governor of New York. As governor, he oversaw construction of the Erie Canal, a project Jefferson greatly admired.
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![Engraving of the painting depicting Jefferson and the Committee of Five presenting the Declaration to the Continental Congress]()
EncyclopediaDeclaration of Independence by Trumbull (Engraving)
Jefferson supported the creation John Trumbull's masterpiece, “The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, July 4th, 1776,” and displayed a copy of it at Monticello
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![James Hoban's 1793 North Elevation for the White House (President's House) in Washington, DC.]()
EncyclopediaDining at the President's House
Thomas Jefferson held periodic dinners at the President's House in Washington to build relationships with political allies and opponents often using the events as a tool to gain political ends.
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![Painting of one wing of the U.S. Capitol in 1800 during the building's construction.]()
EncyclopediaDining with Congress
President Jefferson's dinners with legislators, administrators, diplomats, and European philosophers were unprecedented in their frequency and bountiful elegance.
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![A table in Monticello's Dining Room is set for six guest with a white cloth, white china with light green detail, Jefferson cups, and silver cutlery, with two dumbwaiters flanking on opposite corners.]()
EncyclopediaDinner Etiquette
During his tenure as U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson promoted a style of dinner etiquette that was much more informal than the style exercised by his two predecessors.
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![Thomas Jefferson, "An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom," January 16, 1786, Manuscript, Records of the General Assembly, Enrolled Bills, Record Group 78, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.]()
StoryDivided We Stand, United We Fall
Why the Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom is the key to political freedom and free thought.
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![A small, circular portrait of Edmond Charles Edouard Genet in military uniform.]()
Edmond-Charles Genêt
Edmond-Charles Genêt, a French diplomat, nearly brought the United States back into war with Great Britain and other enemies of Revolutionary France.
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Edward Coles
Edward Coles was a private secretary to James Madison and an abolitionist who directly challenged Thomas Jefferson on the subject of slavery.
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![Front of Preble medal]()
EncyclopediaEdward Preble (Medals & Medallions)
Jefferson owned a commemorative medal of Commodore Edward Preble made to honoe his successful attack on Tripoli during the fall of 1804.
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![Political cartoon showing an eagle attacking Jefferson as he is about to throw the U.S. Constitution onto a fire.]()
EncyclopediaElection of 1800
The presidential election of 1800 pitted Thomas Jefferson against incumbent John Adams and is still one of the most controversial elections in American history.
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![Gilbert Stuart's small grisaille-style, muted-color portrait of Thomas Jefferson in profile facing his right showing only his neck and head.]()
EncyclopediaElection of 1804
President Thomas Jefferson and his running mate, New York Governor George Clinton, won the nation's fifth election by an electoral landslide.
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EncyclopediaElementary School Act
The Elementary School Act, Thomas Jefferson's "Bill for Establishing Elementary Schools," was proposed legislation that was never officially adopted.
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EncyclopediaEmbargo Act of 1807
What was the Embargo Act of 1807? Learn about how President Jefferson used an embargo as a method of asserting American rights after a British warship attacked the USS Chesapeake.
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![James Hoban's 1793 North Elevation for the White House (President's House) in Washington, DC.]()
EncyclopediaExecution on the White House Lawn
Find out whether Thomas Jefferson personally executed a prisoner for treason on the lawn of the White House.
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![Prise de la Bastille by Jean-Pierre-Louis-Laurent Houel, 1789.; image courtesy Gallica Digital Library -Bibliothèque Nationale de France; public domain.]()
EncyclopediaFall of the Bastille
Jefferson was in Paris on July 14, 1789 during the storming of the Bastille and visited the site in the days after.
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![1771 Rigoberto Bonne Carte des Cotes de Barbarie ou Les Royaumes de Marco, de Fez, d'Alger, de Tunis, et de Tripoli avec les Pays Circonvoisins (Map of the Mediterranean and the Maghreb or Barbary Coast) ;image courtesy Geographicus Rare Maps/Wikimedia Commons]()
EncyclopediaFirst Barbary War
In 1803, Jefferson used military force against the North African "Barbary state" of Tripoli, whose privateers had been capturing American ships.
