Jefferson : architect of American liberty / John B. Boles.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boles, John B., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.

Jefferson, Thomas.

Presidents--United States--Biography.

Presidents.

Legislators.

United States.

Virginia.

Revolutionaries--United States--Biography.

Revolutionaries.

Diplomats--United States--Biography.

Diplomats.

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783.

Politics and government.

United States--Politics and government--1783-1809.

Legislators--Virginia--Biography.

Governors--Virginia--Biography.

Governors.

Virginia--Politics and government--1775-1783.

Local Subjects:

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.

Governors--Virginia--Biography.

Diplomats--United States--Biography.

Presidents--United States--Biography.

Revolutionaries--United States--Biography.

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783.

United States--Politics and government--1783-1809.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xi, 626 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Basic Books, [2017]

Summary:

"As Alexander Hamilton's star has risen, Thomas Jefferson's has fallen, largely owing to their divergent views on race. Once seen as the most influential American champion of liberty and democracy, Jefferson is now remembered largely for his relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, and for electing not to free her or most of the other people he owned. In this magisterial biography, the eminent scholar John B. Boles does not ignore the aspects of Jefferson that trouble us today, but strives to see him in full, and to undertstand him amid the sweeping upheaval of his times. We follow Jefferson from his early success as an abnormally precocious student and lawyer in colonial Virginia through his drafting of the Declaration of Independence at age 33, his travels in Europe on the eve of the French Revolution, his acidic personal battles with Hamilton, his triumphant ascent to the presidency in 1801, his prodigious efforts to found the University of Virginia, and beyond. From Jefferson's inspiring defenses of political and religious liberty to his heterodox abridgment of Christian belief, Boles explores Jefferson's expansive intellectual life, and the profound impact of his ideas on the world. Boles overturns conventional wisdom at every turn, arguing, among other things, that Jefferson did not--as later southerners would--deem the states rightfully superior to the federal government. Yet Boles's view is not limited to politics and public life; we also meet Jefferson the architect, scientist, bibliophile, and gourmet--as well as Jefferson the gentle father and widower, doting on his daughters and longing for escape from the rancorous world of politics. As this authoritative, evenhanded portrait shows, Jefferson challenges us more thoroughly than any other founder; he was at once the most idealistic, contradictory, and quintessentially American of them all." -- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A note on capitalization

Introduction

Part I: Colonial Virginia, 1743-1770

Part II: Revolutionary America, 1771-1784

Part III: Paris, 1784-1790

Part IV: Philadelphia and New York City, 1790-1801

Part V: Washington, DC, 1801-1809

Part VI: Monticello, 1809-1826

Postscript

Acknowledgments

List of abbreviations in notes

Notes

Bibliographical essay

Index.

Part I: Colonial Virginia, 1743-1770. "A hard student" ; Young legislator

Part II: Revolutionary America, 1771-1784. "Inspire us with firmness" ; "These are our grievances" ; "Pen of the American Revolution" ; Revolutionary lawmaker ; The fight for independence ; A Congress "little numerous, but very contentious"

Part III: Paris, 1784-1790. "On the vaunted scene of Europe" ; At home in Paris ; Tourist ; "A powerful obstacle ... to emancipation" ; "Liberty is to be gained by inches"

Part IV: Philadelphia and New York City, 1790-1801. From Paris to New York ; Jefferson versus Hamilton ; The specter of the French Revolution ; "Totally absorbed in my rural occupations" ; The vice presidency ; "Reign of witches" ; An attempt to "strangle the election"

Part V: Washington, DC, 1801-1809. Political faith and presidential style ; "We are acting for all mankind" ; "Louisiana for a song" ; "Steadily in her course" ; The collapse of political consensus ; "War, embargo, or nothing"

Part VI: Monticello, 1809-1826. "Returning to the scenes of my birth and early life" ; "We ought not to die before we have explained ourselves" ; Living with paradox ; One last crusade ; The Sage of Monticello.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 523-594) and index.

ISBN:

9780465094684

0465094686

OCLC:

958798622