Thomas Jefferson: The Revolution of Ideas (Oxford Portraits)

In this new concise biography Thomas Jefferson historian R.B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder not as a great political figure, but as leader of a "revolution of ideas that would make the world over again." Bernstein examines Jefferson's strengths and weaknesses, his achievements and failures, his triumphs, contradictions, and failings. Thomas Jefferson details his luxurious (and debt-burdened) life as a Virginia gentleman to his passionate belief in democracy, from his tortured defense of slavery to his relationship with Sally Hemings. An architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, propagandist, planter, party leader Jefferson was multifaceted, and Bernstein explores these roles even as he illuminates Jefferson's central place in American enlightenment the "revolution of ideas" that did so much to create the nation we are today. Bernstein also examines the less-remembered points in Jefferson's thinking the nature of the Union, his vision of who was entitled to citizenship, his dread of debt (both personal and national). Thomas Jefferson is the latest title in the Oxford Portraits series, which offers informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Each volume in the series is heavily based on primary documents, including writings by and about each subject. Every Oxford Portrait is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, original letters, manuscripts, and memorabilia that frame the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history. Every volume in the series can be incorporated into the American history curriculum at the middle and high school levels.

In this new concise biography Thomas Jefferson historian R.B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder not as a great political figure, but as leader of a revolution of ideas that would make the world over again.

Bernstein examines Jefferson's strengths and weaknesses, his achievements and failures, his triumphs, contradictions, and failings. Thomas Jefferson details his luxurious (and debt-burdened) life as a Virginia gentleman to his passionate belief in democracy, from his tortured defense of slavery to his relationship with Sally Hemings. An architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, propagandist, planter, party leader Jefferson was multifaceted, and Bernstein explores these roles even as he illuminates Jefferson's central place in American enlightenment the revolution of ideas that did so much to create the nation we are today. Bernstein also examines the less-remembered points in Jefferson's thinking the nature of the Union, his vision of who was entitled to citizenship, his dread of debt (both personal and national).

Thomas Jefferson is the latest title in the Oxford Portraits series, which offers informative and insightful biographies of people whose lives shaped their times and continue to influence ours. Each volume in the series is heavily based on primary documents, including writings by and about each subject. Every Oxford Portrait is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, original letters, manuscripts, and memorabilia that frame the personality and achievements of its subject against the backdrop of history. Every volume in the series can be incorporated into the American history curriculum at the middle and high school levels.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-An honest look at Jefferson's life, accomplishments, and inconsistencies. Bernstein does not gloss over his subject's flaws and the controversies that surrounded him. The contradictions between Jefferson's beliefs and his behavior, while exposing his human side, are not used to denigrate him or to diminish his accomplishments. Obvious controversies, such as his owning slaves in spite of his writings, his relationship with Sally Hemings, his conflicts with George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, and his volatile friendship with John Adams, are supplemented with lesser-known facts. His determination to lead the life of a landed gentleman despite his inability to afford it; the continuous construction at Monticello that made it much less pleasant than the museum it is today; his pride in founding the University of Virginia and his disappointment in the conduct of the student body; and, simply, the rough edges of his personality are all effectively delineated. The development of Jefferson's religious beliefs is particularly well described, but a misquoting of the Virginia Bill for Religious Freedom results in an incomprehensible sentence. Overall, the book reads well, although some of the background events would benefit from more detail. Black-and-white photos and period prints complement the text. Attractive and appealing, this book is similar in reading level to Joyce Appleby's Thomas Jefferson (Times, 2003) and in content to Norman Risjord's Thomas Jefferson (Madison, 1994).-Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 8 1 A YOUNG GENTLEMAN OF VIRGINIA (1743–1774)......Page 16 "It would be to my advantage to go to the college"......Page 19 2 "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS. . ." (1763–1776)......Page 30 "All men are created equal"......Page 49 3 THE HARD WORK OF REVOLUTION (1776–1784)......Page 53 "Almighty God hath created the mind free"......Page 60 4 "BEHOLD ME AT LENGTH ON THE VAUNTED SCENE OF EUROPE!" (1784–1789)......Page 73 5 "THE PARTIES STYLED REPUBLICAN AND FEDERAL" (1789–1793)......Page 101 6 TOUCHING EARTH (1794–1797)......Page 128 7 "THE REIGN OF WITCHES" (1797–1801)......Page 143 "The aspect of our politics has wonderfully changed"......Page 149 8 "WE ARE ALL REPUBLICANS, WE ARE ALL FEDERALISTS" (1801–1805)......Page 165 "Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle"......Page 167 "A Wall of Separation"......Page 170 9 "A SPLENDID MISERY" (1805–1809)......Page 191 10 ENTHUSIASM AND ANGUISH (1809–1826)......Page 204 "All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man"......Page 226 EPILOGUE: "TAKE CARE OF ME WHEN DEAD...."......Page 228 CHRONOLOGY......Page 238 FURTHER READING AND WEBSITES......Page 242 HISTORIC SITES......Page 244 C......Page 246 F......Page 247 J......Page 248 L......Page 249 P......Page 250 S......Page 251 Y......Page 252 Oxford University Press, USA CONTENTS 6 INTRODUCTION 8 1 A YOUNG GENTLEMAN OF VIRGINIA (1743–1774) 16 "It would be to my advantage to go to the college" 19 2 "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS. . ." (1763–1776) 30 "All men are created equal" 49 3 THE HARD WORK OF REVOLUTION (1776–1784) 53 "Almighty God hath created the mind free" 60 4 "BEHOLD ME AT LENGTH ON THE VAUNTED SCENE OF EUROPE!" (1784–1789) 73 5 "THE PARTIES STYLED REPUBLICAN AND FEDERAL" (1789–1793) 101 6 TOUCHING EARTH (1794–1797) 128 7 "THE REIGN OF WITCHES" (1797–1801) 143 "The aspect of our politics has wonderfully changed" 149 8 "WE ARE ALL REPUBLICANS, WE ARE ALL FEDERALISTS" (1801–1805) 165 "Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle" 167 "A Wall of Separation" 170 9 "A SPLENDID MISERY" (1805–1809) 191 10 ENTHUSIASM AND ANGUISH (1809–1826) 204 "All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man" 226 EPILOGUE: "TAKE CARE OF ME WHEN DEAD...." 228 CHRONOLOGY 238 FURTHER READING AND WEBSITES 242 HISTORIC SITES 244 INDEX 246 A 246 B 246 C 246 D 247 E 247 F 247 G 248 H 248 I 248 J 248 K 249 L 249 M 250 N 250 O 250 P 250 R 251 S 251 T 252 U 252 V 252 W 252 X 252 Y 252 ISBN-13:,9780195143683