84 Presidents and American Symbols: Supplemental Guide 5A | Thomas Jefferson
Who was the first president of the United States?- George Washington
Later, Washington said, “I have been president long enough. Let
someone else have a turn!”
Jefferson’s friend John Adams became the second president.When his turn was finished, Thomas Jefferson became the third
president of the United States. Show image 5A-11: Declaration of Independence
Whenever he was not sure about what to do, Jefferson read the
words that he wrote in the Declaration of Independence. They
helped him make good decisions. Show image 5A-12: Statue of Liberty
[Point out France on the world map. Explain that France is a country in Europe.]
This is the Statue of Liberty. The government of France gave the Statue
of Liberty to the United States for its one hundredth birthday. France
admired—or respected—America’s love of freedom and liberty, so they
gave the statue as a gift. This statue still stands in New York Harbor.[Point to the area of the New York Harbor on a U.S. map. Tell students that the
statue is still there today.]
The Statue of Liberty welcomes thousands of visitors each year to
America. And it is a reminder to us of Thomas Jefferson’s famous
words in the Declaration of Independence, that everyone should
have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”