 Thomas Jefferson wanted you to know three things about him. Number one, he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Number two, he believed people should be able to choose their religion, or no religion. And number three, he founded the University of Virginia. That is what he wanted on his tombstone. He did not mention he was the third U.S. president, or that during his first term, he bought more than two million square kilometers of land and doubled the size of the country, or that during his second term, he accidentally ruined the economy by stopping trade with Europe. Americans remember Jefferson for being a champion of liberty and equality while owning slaves. Thomas Jefferson, a very complex guy.