Why was Thomas Jefferson an important figure in the American Revolution?

Jefferson is sometimes viewed as one of the ideological fathers of the American Revolution, chiefly due to his authorship of "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" in 1774, and of course the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The former was one of the clearest and more strident statements of the colonial position after the passage of the Intolerable Acts, and of course the latter is, more than any other document, associated with...

Jefferson is sometimes viewed as one of the ideological fathers of the American Revolution, chiefly due to his authorship of "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" in 1774, and of course the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The former was one of the clearest and more strident statements of the colonial position after the passage of the Intolerable Acts, and of course the latter is, more than any other document, associated with the ideals of the American Revolution. Beyond this, Jefferson served in the Second Continental Congress for three years, and as Virginia governor for two years. As governor, he was nearly captured when British troops invaded, and his flight from the troops was used against him by his political enemies later. In short, Jefferson was among the most important of the revolutionary leaders, though more for his articulation of the ideals of the Revolution than for his contributions to administering the government.