Jefferson+and+The+Madisons

Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was both our 3rd President and the writer of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia in 1743 and was the son of Peter Jefferson, a successful farmer who owned a huge amount of land. (of which Thomas would inherit later in life) He studied law at the College of William and Mary. Jefferson was a member of the continental congress and was chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He was a good friend of John Adams before Presidency. They competed for office after Washington stepped down and it really hurt their friendship. Thomas was elected in 1800 after John Adams had served a term. Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory in 1803, allmost doubling the size of our nation. He served two terms as President of the United States. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the same day, July 4 1826. This was exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of independence.

James and Dolley Madison
James Madison was the 4th President of the United States, born on March 16,1751, in Orange county, Virginia. Madison had a life very similar to Jefferson, being born into a family of planters and getting a great college education. Madison was the youngest member of the Continental Congress, being somewhat small and shy. He was known as the father of the Constitution and his "Virginia Plan" served as a blueprint to the Constitution. In the year of 1812, Madison declared war on the British because their navy ships raided the American shipping lanes. In addition to safety on the ocean, he wanted to protect western settlement in America.This war was known as the War of 1812, Mr. Madison's War, and The Second War for Independence. During the War of 1812, The British burned down many buildings as they marched into our nation's capital, including the White House. James Madison married Dolley Payne on September 15, 1794. Dolley was said to be the most colorful of the early first ladies. She was born into a Quaker Family and, unlike her husband, had no formal education. She had a spirited personality, and wore bright clothing all the time that reflected that personality. Dolley was very social, and held numerous parties and dinners at the White House. When the British invaded DC, she bravely made sure all important documents and valuables were removed, as well as a Portrait of George Washington. James and Dolley had a happy marriage that lasted for 42 years, untill James died in 1836. Dolley died 13 years later, in 1849, and her body was later moved from the Congressional Cemetery in Washington to rest beside her husbands grave in Montipelier.

Monticello
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