Ep. 118 – Thomas Jefferson Enters Politics

Thomas Jefferson has some big changes in his life as he enters adulthood.

Thomas Jefferson became a lawyer with the General Court of Virginia – skipping time in the lower courts. He could do that because he was intelligent, but also because he was wealthy and well-connected. 

Two of the examiners were Peyton Randolph (his cousin) and George Wythe (his mentor). 

Thomas Jefferson worked on cases for enslaved people for free at least seven different times despite being a slaveholder himself. But he represented enslaved people and indentured servants who were suing for their freedom.

In one case, he even went up against George Wythe in 1770 and argued “under the law of nature, all men are born free.”

In 1774, he gave up the law entirely, giving all of his remaining cases to his close friend Edmund Randolph. Yes, another Randolph, this one a second cousin. 

After all, by 1774, Thomas had very different things on his mind.

All about the Virginia General Court and House of Burgesses.

After the Royal Government stoped the colonial government from meeting, they met at the Raleigh Tavern. 

 Some of the most important conversations of the Revolution took place in the Raleigh Tavern's Apollo Room.

And Thomas Jefferson got writing!

A Summary View of the Rights of British America opened eyes

He also started to build a house. THE house. Monticello.

Then, there was Martha

All about that snowy wedding and honeymoon.