what does jefferson state directly as the reason

Jefferson most commonly “states directly” a reason in U.S. history classes in one of two places: the Declaration of Independence or the Kentucky Resolutions. Without the rest of your question, teachers are usually asking about the Declaration. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson directly states that the reason the colonies are breaking away from Britain is that the British king has repeatedly violated the colonists’ rights and ignored their attempts to seek redress, so they are justified in dissolving their political connection with Britain and forming an independent government that will better secure their natural rights.

To fit what teachers and textbooks usually want, you can phrase it this way:

Jefferson states directly that the colonies are declaring independence because the British government has become destructive of the colonists’ natural rights and has refused to correct its abuses, so the people have the right to alter or abolish that government and establish a new one that will protect their rights.

If you can share the exact sentence or worksheet question (for example: “What does Jefferson state directly as the reason for…?”), I can match the wording even more closely to what your assignment expects.