Thomas Jefferson\'s Legacy His Innovations,

Thomas Jefferson's legacy His innovations, writings, and political views and agendas continue to shape and influence America today. A Renaissance man in his time, Jefferson's greatest achievements include writing the Declaration of Independence, becoming the third President of the United States, passing the Statute of Religious Freedom in Virginia, and founding the University of Virginia.

Jefferson was elected to the Second Continental Congress appointed to head the committee designated to prepare the Declaration of Independence. With the aide of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, Jefferson amended his first draft of the document which was later altered by Congress. The Declaration of Independence drew influence from several social tracts and natural rights theory contained within Jefferson's own a Summary View of the Rights of British America ("Brief Biography of Thomas Jefferson"). In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson asserted that all men are created equal, regardless of "birth, wealth, or status, and that the government is the servant, not the master, of the people ("Brief Biography of Thomas Jefferson").

Three years after drafting the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson drafted the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom. Virginia's General Assembly would enact the Act into law in 1786 ("The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom"). This Act supported the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that stated that "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion," and supported the Free Exercise Clause which supported the Establishment Clause.

The third achievement for which Jefferson was most proud of was his involvement in the establishment of the University of Virginia. Founded in 1819, through the University of Virginia, Jefferson sought to provide education in practical affairs and public service rather than preparing people solely for professions in the classroom or pulpit ("Short History of the University of Virginia"). Jefferson was intensively involved in the school's function and design. He helped to design the curriculum, recruited the first faculty, and designed the Academical Village, "a terraced green space surrounded by residential and academic buildings, gardens, and the majestic center-point -- the Rotunda" ("Short History of the University of Virginia"). The university opened in 1825 with classes offered in ancient and modern languages, mathematics, moral and natural philosophy, chemistry, law, and medicine ("Short History of the University of Virginia"). Though Jefferson was opposed to the granting of degrees, the university awarded its first doctor of medicine for graduates of the university's School of Medicine in 1828, the bachelor of laws was awarded to graduates of the law school in 1842; the bachelor's degree was first awarded in 1849 and became the standard and prerequisite for a master's degree in 1899 ("Short History of the University of Virginia").

Though Jefferson played a major role in the development of the United States he preferred to be remembered for the things he gave the people and not the things the people gave to him. His final request was that his tombstone read: HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR of the DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE, of the STATUTE of VIRGINIA for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, and FATHER of the UNIVERSITY of VIRGINIA.

The Townsend Acts were a series of laws passed by the Parliament of Great Britain beginning in 1767. These acts were intended to raise revenue to pay the salaries of governors and judges, enforce compliance with trade regulations, punish New York for failure to comply with the Quartering Act, and establish a precedent that Parliament had the right to tax the colonies.

The Stamp Act of 1765 was a direct tax imposed by Parliament on the American colonies. The act required that printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper procured in London. The act intended to raise revenue to help pay for troops stationed in North America.