Thomas Jefferson is counted among the most influential Founding Fathers. Jefferson used his prowess with the pen to craft one of the most important and enduring documents in American history. Jefferson continuously fought for American republicanism and sought to preserve the principles of the new nation. He was conscious that the decisions he made would shape the future of America, and this sense of responsibility, the duty to give what is owed to the community one belongs to, guided him through nearly fifty years of public service.

Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, his most famous work. Jefferson was the youngest person at the Continental Congress, but he was already known for a sharp intellect and an equally capable pen. These decisions required great courage and deliberation from Jefferson. Producing such a document was not only treason against the British crown but would also define the cause and principles the Americans were fighting for. As a result, the document needed to be clear, precise, and persuasive enough to compel the colonists to go to war with Britain. To attempt such a document at all, one worthy of standing as the founding statement of a new nation, was itself an act of magnanimity, a reaching for greatness in service of a cause larger than himself. Although he was a part of a team of five men, Jefferson authored the document independently. The Congress reviewed the document and made many changes, but they left the introduction untouched, which contained the famous words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…" The completed document was promulgated by the Congress throughout the colonies and became fundamental to the American identity.

Unlike many of the founding fathers, Jefferson is not known for his military service. His greatest defense of the nation came from his politics. After the war, Jefferson engaged in many arguments regarding the operation of the new nation. Jefferson wanted to ensure that the government did not overstep its authority. This came to a head during the election of 1800, when Jefferson defeated John Adams in the presidential election. Adams's party, the Federalists, differed from Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans so much so that many people worried that the election would lead to a revolution. However, Jefferson, a patriot, did not pursue power for his own party but sought to preserve the nation. In his First Inaugural Address, he allayed the nation's fears, saying, "We are all republicans, we are all Federalists." Jefferson used his time as president to reconcile political parties rather than stoke further agitation. Jefferson proved to be a highly effective president, and his good judgment repeatedly served the nation. He cut the national debt, expanded the nation's territory out West through the Louisiana Purchase, and protected American shipping by defeating the Barbary Coast pirates. Jefferson had barely won his first term as president, but his leadership led to a landslide victory in his second term.

Jefferson remained an influential figure in America, even after he left office. In his final years, he undertook the founding of the University of Virginia, a project that demanded years of sustained labor from a man in declining health and mounting debt. This late, difficult work was a testament to his perseverance — his refusal to surrender to weariness in the pursuit of a good he believed in. He established the University of Virginia and continued to write letters to his friends and those who sought advice. Jefferson's legacy continued long after his death on July 4th, 1826. His immortal words in the Declaration of Independence would come to be regarded as among the greatest documents in defense of individual liberties ever written.