Jefferson the Hypocrite

Thomas Jefferson, a philosopher, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third president of the United States of America, has been reviled in recent years as a hypocrite … but is the criticism fair? Mary Jane Sheehy Moffett seeks to refute the idea that Jefferson was a hypocrite by taking a detailed look at his dealings with American Indians, his stance on slavery, and his relationship with Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello. Noting that the slave trade began long before the Americas were discovered and that people of various races were sold into slavery, she contends that the Founding Fathers – including Jefferson – had nothing to do with slavery being introduced into America and everything to do with its demise. The author shares a brief history of the American Indians’ settlement in the Americas and Jefferson’s interaction with them throughout his lifetime. She also explores his relationship with Hemings. Get an accurate view of who Jefferson really was and gain a deeper appreciation for his many accomplishments with this rich analysis of his life – as well as what be motivating his detractors.