Thomas Jefferson (American Founding Father)

Thomas Jefferson was a prominent American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which proclaimed America's independence from Britain. He served as the third President of the United States (1801–1809), advocating for individual rights, education, and a limited federal government. Jefferson was also a lawyer, diplomat, and plantation owner, known for his ideas on democracy, liberty, and equality, although his ownership of slaves complicates his legacy. His contributions helped shape the nation’s founding principles and its early development as an independent republic.