Mr President page 8

Mr President page 8 by ric gustafson

President Jefferson began to lay out his plan for the United States. The first thing set up was the ' Revolution of 1800'. Jefferson wanted to weaken the federal government. Jefferson believed that the Founding Fathers wanted the states to have most of the control. President Jefferson wanted to pay off the national debt. Jefferson wanted to get rid of the standing army. Jefferson wanted to heal the national divide. Jefferson spent his first night as President at the boardinghouse he was staying at. On March 19 1801, President Jefferson moved into the President's house.

President Jefferson was raised by his father Peter in western Virginia. He died when Thomas was just 14. Young Jefferson studied at William and Mary College and earned a degree in law. Jefferson began building a large plantation he named ' Monticello'. Four years later, he married Martha Wayles Skelton. Tragedy struck in 1782. Martha died suddenly after giving birth to their 6th child. Martha was only 33. Of the six children, only daughters Mary and Martha would survive to adulthood. President Jefferson never remarried.

Jefferson spent a lot of time redesigning and rebuilding ' Monticello'. He had a daily routine that he followed. He rose at dawn. He had a breakfast of coffee, hot corn bread with butter. He spent time writing letters in his study. When he was alone at home, he had a light dinner of vegetables and meat.

research help: ' Confronting the Presidents' by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric