Thomas Jefferson

This two-part documentary by  Ken Burns focuses on Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and one of the so-called “Founding Fathers” of the United States. Jefferson also served as the third president of the United States, from 1801 to 1809, as all as the country’s second vice president from 1797 to 1801. Between 1784 and 1789, he represented the young United States in France. Upon his return, he  strived to preserve the fragile new U.S. government and helped to create the first political party. The Louisiana Purchase with France in 1800, which he negotiated, doubled the size of the United States, and he spent the last years of his life  helping to found the University of Virginia.