Thomas Jefferson was one of the men who helped to bring the United States into being, and he shepherded the country through some of the most dynamic political years in its history. It is possible that without his brilliance, the fledgling democracy, the first in the world since the end of Ancient Greece, may not have survived its first few trials by fire. Inside you’ll read about Born to PrivilegeMarriage and MonticelloRevolution and Nation BuildingPresidencySecond TermReturn to Private LifeLegacyThe Measure of a Man And much more! Jefferson was a scientist, fascinated by the development of new crops and scientific agricultural techniques. He was an architect who helped to promote the popularity of neo-classical and Neo-Palladian architectural forms. He was a prodigious writer, a linguist who mastered several languages, and a naturalist who studied birds, wine, natural bridges, and soil conditions. Thomas Jefferson improved many contemporary inventions, adapting them to his needs.