Thomas Jefferson was a major political leader and the third president of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. He was also a co-founder and leader of the ‘Democratic Republic Party.’ From 1779 to 1781, he served as the wartime governor of Virginia. He also wrote the ‘Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,’ a statute that was enacted by the ‘Virginia General Assembly’ into the state's law in 1786. Before he was elected to the presidency, he was appointed as the first United States secretary of state during 1789-1793 and was the second vice-president of America, serving from 1797 to 1801. In 1776, he became the main author of the ‘Declaration of Independence,’ and received appreciation for his role in promoting republicanism in the United States. While in power, Jefferson fiercely supported the idea of democracy and favored states’ rights, which he considered virtues of republicanism. A man of many talents, Thomas Jefferson explored many interests and found success as a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, inventor, and founder of the ‘University of Virginia.’