Thomas Jefferson knew how he wanted to be remembered, and even designed his own tombstone. It memorialized his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, as well as his founding of the University of Virginia, yet made no mention that he had served the nation as its first secretary of state, minister to France, and third president. Jefferson was a hardworking scholar who came into his own as a lawyer, landowner, and county leader. Elected to the Virginia Assembly in 1769, he became an eloquent critic of the colonial policies of Great Britain and King George III. His talents made him the perfect candidate to write the new nation's founding document. But he was not without his contradictions. Though he penned the immortal phrase "all men are created equal," during his lifetime he owned 600 slaves, only 11 of whom he ever granted freedom. He sought elected office, but was sensitive to criticism and often wished to escape to Monticello.
Author Brandon Marie Miller captures Jefferson's complexity through his original writings and hands-on activities from the colonial era. Readers will design a Palladian window, build a simple microscope, paint a "buffalo robe," dance a reel, and more. The text also includes a time line, Web and travel resources, and a reading list.