The Sugar Act
The Stamp Act
The Formation of the Sons of Liberty
The Townshend Acts
Non-consumption and Non-importation
The Boston Massacre
The Formation of the Committees of Correspondence
The Boston Tea Party
The Coercive Acts
The First Continental Congress
Lexington and Concord
The Second Continental Congress
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Washington Takes Command of the Continental Army
Declarations of IndependenceThomas Jefferson's memorandum book, page 11, 20 June 1776 - 6 July 1776
"For a pencil"
Amidst the intensity of debate over the question of independence, the necessities of daily life for a plantation owner and politician continue. Like Adams, Knox, and others of this time, Jefferson keeps a memorandum book to record that which he feels is most important about each day.
SeeQuestions to Consider
1. Look at the dates covered on this page. What was happening during these two weeks? Is there any sign of it here?
2. If you did not know anything about Thomas Jefferson, what would this page tell you about him? Support your answers with specific details from the text.
Further Exploration
3. How is this memorandum book different from John Adams' memorandum book? [Click here to view several pages from John Adams's diary 25 listing a memoradum of measures to pursue in Congress.]
Funding from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati supported enhancements to this website.
