“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” (qtd. in Allison 65). Before 1776, colonial America was a colony of Great Britain. Then, when their homeland became too oppressive, courageous revolutionaries planned a Declaration of Independence to free themselves from their bonds. This document launched the colony into the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Ultimately, the United States of America gained its independence thanks to many brave men and women. Prominent among these heroes and heroines is Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Aside from the Declaration, Jefferson achieved great things in his life; our nation would not be the same today without his genius: “Even among that extraordinary group of men known as the Founding Fathers, Jefferson was truly a giant” (Allison 9). Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 to Peter and Jane Jefferson living near the Blue Ridge Mountains in colonial America. He was the eldest of two sons and six daughters. His father was a surveyor with little formal education and owned property including 60 slaves. Jane, his mother, came from a very distinguished family. His father died when Jefferson was fourteen, and he left to learn Latin and Greek with a nearby teacher. In 1760, he began school at the College of William and Mary where he maintained a rigorous academic schedule that included: fifteen hours of study primarily in law, three hours of violin practice, and six hours of sleep and food (“Jefferson” 323). Through this education, he was "laying the foundation for his future career as a ... middle of paper ... Declaration of Independence." In search of Dulcinea. November 30, 2011. April 13, 2010. .Harris, Erin. “On this day: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die.” In search of Dulcinea. July 4, 2011. November 30, 2011. “Jefferson.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. Ed. 2002. "Jefferson, Thomas". Illustrated History of the American Heritage of the United States. 1989 ed.Peterson, Merrill D., ed. Thomas Jefferson: Writings. New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984. "Thomas Jefferson." University of Virginia Library. November 30, 2011. “Thomas Jefferson.” History of the United States. Gen. 10, 2012 .