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.

 

Ep. 117 – Thomas Jefferson's Early Life

Growing Patriots · Ep. 117 – Thomas Jefferson's Early Life

In this episode, we start learning about Thomas Jefferson!

All about his childhood, family, education, and the beginning of his legal career. 

Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell

Meet Thomas Jefferson's Siblings

1. Jane
2. Mary 
3. Elizabeth
4. Martha
5. Lucy
6. Anne
7. Randolph

Education

Thomas Jefferson was educated by John Harvie and James Maury.

Around this time, he lived at Tuckahoe.

At 17, he entered the College of William and Mary where he studied with William Small. 

He met his mentor, George Wythe:

He also spent time with Lt. Governor Francis Fauquier. 

He was a member of the Flat Hat Club.

Ep. 116 – John Adams' Retirement and Later Life

After serving as President and Vice President, John Adams retired in Massachusetts and started writing. 

A lot. 

John Adams, oil painting by Gilbert Stuart, 1826

Peace Field House, when the Adams' retired

John Adams Had A Few Main Correspondents

He also wrote to a relative on his mother's side, William Cunningham and the newspaper, The Boston Patriot. His son, John Quincy Adams, living abroad, also recieved many letters. 

He began working on his autobiography

Then, Benjamin Rush had a big impact on John Adams 

He faciliated a reconnection with Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1812, and they would write hundreds of letters to each other over the next 14 years. 

Ep. 115 – John Adams in the Executive Branch

When John Adams got back from his time abroad, he had two big jobs in the brand-new American government: The first vice president and second president. 

Listen to the new episode now! 

Peacefield House in Braintree, Massachuetts. This is where John and Abigail moved in 1788. 

Then, he was elected Vice President.

Need a reminder about how that happened? Listen to the previous episode about George Washington's election! 

Artist John Trumbull painted this portrait of John Adams while he served as Vice President under George Washington

John Adams really didn't like being Vice President, though. 

https://youtu.be/uBnb5m347JM?si=_EvEIpyDXd2DVtQr

After George Washington retired, the first real presidential election in American history took place. 

And John Adams won!

Here are a few things we remember from his presidency. 

The Quasai-War with France

The Alien and Sedition Acts

This cartoon depicts a debate in Congress about the Alien and Sedition Acts. The laws provoked strong reactions from the congressmen.

Prints and Photographs Division/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (neg no. LC-USZ62-1551) 

Thomas Jefferson – John Adams’ own vice president! –  and James Madison wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions to fight back. 

Abigail Adams as First Lady

Then, it was time for the election of 1800

Two parties were fighting for the Presidency and it got ugly. 

For the Federalist party, John Adams was running with Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (for VP). 

Portrait of Pinckney by James Earl. 

Against them, Thomas Jefferson ran for the Democratic-Republican Party with Aaron Burr for VP.

Portrait of Aaron Burr by John Vanderlyn

Jefferson and Burr won. Adams would not get a second term. 

Find out what he did after the presidency in our next episode! 

Ep. 114 — John Adams Represents America Abroad

For most of the American Revolution, John Adams was representing America in Europe. Hear all about it in this episode!

John Adams by John Singleton Copley. London, 1783

We've talked about Benjamin Franklin's time in France. Learn about Arthur Lee here! 

By John Trumbull - https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/123, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=188898048

John Adams' time in Holland was more successful. 

Then, it was time to go back to France to negotiate the Treaty of Paris. 

After peace was secured, he continued representing America abroad. 

One of the big victories was the Prussian-American Treaty of 1785.

Then, he got a huge job. The first ever U.S. Minister to the Court of St. James' in London. 

Hist meeting with King George III was a big moment in history.

Then, in 1788, he headed back home to America. And he would have even bigger jobs to do!