The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is home to many memorials that honor significant people and events of American history. Overlooking the mall stands the looming Jefferson Memorial. Dedicated on April 13, 1943, the memorial is a tribute to Thomas Jefferson, one of America's best known presidents and a passionate guardian of human rights.

Jefferson's love of architecture inspired the memorial's architect, John Pope, who chose a Roman design to honor Jefferson's struggle to attain liberty for Americans.

Jefferson, well known as the author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote other works defending American liberties from British tyranny, the primary rights of course being, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

These ideals are also the primary focus of the memorial.

Jefferson later defended the rights of Americans from their own government by opposing the creation of a national bank which he felt unconstitutional and threatening to the prerogative of Americans. He is also the author of the Kentucky Resolutions attacking the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts gave the government power to violate the freedom's of American citizens, and Jefferson argued that they went beyond constitutional limitations, encroaching upon every American's rights.

Although Jefferson was a slave owner himself, he successfully outlawed American participation in the international slave trade, ending the further enslavement of Africans and making him an early proponent for civil rights.

Jefferson also believed in the freedom of religion. Religious tolerance was so important to Jefferson that the subject is depicted on an entire panel at the memorial. Through his actions he promoted the separation of church and state and worked towards the disestablishment of the Episcopalian Church as the state -sponsored church of Virginia because he felt it led to the state persecution of religious minorities.

Jefferson spent his entire career trying to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Some of his most thought provoking and momentous quotes are woven into the memorial which serves as a symbol of his efforts to secure liberty for all Americans.

Researched and written by University of West Florida Public History student Sean Gravel.