4 Chapter 3 We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

Chapter 3 "We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident…" When he married in 1772, Jefferson was in his third year in the House of Burgesses. Over the past few years, the thirteen colonies had grown restless under British rule. England had been trying to tax the colonists. The Americans refused to pay. Britain's Tea Act of 1773 made things worse. On December 16, a group of people in Boston, Massachusetts, protested this tax on tea. They boarded three ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. The tea dumping became known as the Boston Tea Party. To punish Bostonians, Britain closed the city's harbor. This made it difficult for people in Boston to obtain supplies they needed.

The British hoped the punishment would scare Americans into obeying them. Just the opposite happened. Many colonists, including Thomas Jefferson, were furious. They felt that the unjust British taxes had provoked the Bostonians. During this time of trouble, Patrick Henry made a famous speech. He said, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Unlike Patrick Henry, Jefferson was a poor speaker. In fact, he often sat silently at public meetings. But could he write! In 1774, he wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America. This pamphlet was his first major writing on politics. It revealed that he was

thinking of matters far beyond taxes. The colonists might be ready to separate from Britain, he wrote. He even referred to the colonies as the "states of America."

Jefferson had another suggestion. On June 1, 1774—the day Boston's port was to close—the House of Burgesses should not do business as usual. Instead, Virginia lawmakers should pray and fast (not eat) to show support for Massachusetts. Jefferson's fellow lawmakers agreed to his idea. Lord Dunmore, Virginia's British governor, learned of the plan. He decided to shut down the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg. This didn't stop Jefferson and his colleagues. They marched to the Raleigh Tavern. There, they declared that Americans were one people and must stick together. They also proposed that a meeting of delegates from all thirteen colonies be organized.

This big meeting was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1774. It was called the First Continental Congress. Every colony but Georgia sent delegates. Stomach problems kept Jefferson from attending, but Virginia's delegates included George Washington and Patrick Henry. If Britain kept mistreating America, Congress was to meet again the next spring. Britain didn't change its ways. War between the thirteen colonies and Britain broke out on April 19, 1775, at Lexington, Massachusetts.

The Second Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House that May. Jefferson wasn't there at the start, for he had not been chosen as a delegate. But when a vacancy in Virginia's delegation had to be filled, his chance came. Jefferson set out in his buggy on the 250-mile trip to Philadelphia. By June 22, 1775, the tall, redheaded Virginian had taken his seat in Congress. Although he rarely said a word, everyone knew he had a way with a pen. He was asked to write some of Congress's official documents.