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=**Thomas Jefferson: Anti-Federalist**=
 * References:**
 * Patrick Henry, William Grayson, and George Mason**

Virginia was known as the most populous state in America at the time of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 with an estimated population of 700,000 people, which includes about 280,000 “three-fifths” slaves. It is located along America’s coastal region and was diverse in social statuses in the late 1700’s. The Virginians were very uniform with their agricultural production of Tobacco which supported the state’s economy with ease. **Background and Occupation ** Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He was born into a wealthy family who held great importance in the economic community. Jefferson attended William and Mary College in Williamsburg and studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy. He married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772 and had many children, only one of whom lived to see more than twenty-five years. Jefferson was a plantation owner, but eventually became the Governor of Virginia from 1779-1781. During the Constitunional Convention and the State Ratifications, Jefferson was a minister (ambassador) to France and went on to become the third president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826 in his home of natural causes. **During the Constitutional Convention ** Thomas Jefferson was not a member of the Constitutional Convention. From the year 1785, Jefferson had been a minister to France for the United States and was not able to be in America for the Convention. Although he heard about the new Constitution and how everything was to remain a secret, he was not present at the Convention. **State Ratifications** Just as Thomas Jefferson was not present at the Constitutional Convention, he did not attend his state’s ratifying convention because he was still in France. Although Thomas Jefferson was not present, once he caught wind of what the new Constitution contained, he supported the ratification of the document. **Arguments Concerning Ratification/Friends and Foes** Thomas Jefferson, although he had no say in the matter, was in support of ratifying the Constitution. The arguments he put forth included that people needed a bill of rights for an energetic national government. Jefferson believed that it was important for human rights to be completely secured by the government and for unalienable rights to be undoubtedly prosperous. The only problems that Jefferson had with the document were that if it gave the government too much power, it would lead to the unhappiness of the American people. If Thomas Jefferson were to have attended the Constitutional Convention, he would have made friends with Meriwether Lewis, John Adams, George Mason, Patrick Henry, and William Grayson. The latter three of the five men were Jefferson’s references who were from Virginia and were Anti-Federalists. Jefferson’s main enemies were Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison, who were all Federalists, but for the most part, Thomas Jefferson frowned upon Federalism and Federalists alike. **Bibliography**: *Jefferson, Thomas. "Annals of American History." Annals of American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. .
 * Representative of Virigina**

Madison, James, and Thomas Jefferson. "Annals of American History." Annals of American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. .

"Population Estimate."Teaching American History. University of Deleware, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. < http://www.dcte.udel.edu/hlp/resources/newnation/pdfs/PopEstim.pdf>.

"Virginia, state, United States: History — Infoplease.com."Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help. — Infoplease.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. / us/A0861809.html#ixzz1YAFWyezH>.