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The American Presidents #3
Thomas Jefferson
An illuminating analysis of the man whose name is synonymous with American democracy
Few presidents have embodied the American spirit as fully as Thomas Jefferson. He was the originator of so many of the founding principles of American democracy. Politically, he shuffled off the centralized authority of the Federalists, working toward a more diffuse and minimalist leadership. He introduced the bills separating church and state and mandating free public education. He departed from the strict etiquette of his European counterparts, appearing at state dinners in casual attire and dispensing with hierarchical seating arrangements. Jefferson initiated the Lewis and Clark expedition and seized on the crucial moment when Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory, thus extending the national development. In this compelling examination, distinguished historian Joyce Appleby captures all of the richness of Jefferson's character and accomplishments.
Few presidents have embodied the American spirit as fully as Thomas Jefferson. He was the originator of so many of the founding principles of American democracy. Politically, he shuffled off the centralized authority of the Federalists, working toward a more diffuse and minimalist leadership. He introduced the bills separating church and state and mandating free public education. He departed from the strict etiquette of his European counterparts, appearing at state dinners in casual attire and dispensing with hierarchical seating arrangements. Jefferson initiated the Lewis and Clark expedition and seized on the crucial moment when Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory, thus extending the national development. In this compelling examination, distinguished historian Joyce Appleby captures all of the richness of Jefferson's character and accomplishments.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Joyce Appleby
114 books45 followersJoyce Oldham Appleby, Ph.D. (Claremont Graduate School, 1966; B.A., Stanford University, 1950), is professor of history at University of California, Los Angeles. She previously taught at San Diego State University, 1967–1981. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993, and was president of the Organization of American Historians (1991) and the American Historical Association (1997).
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September 13, 2019
It is no longer fashionable—or easy—to defend Thomas Jefferson. As Americans, we can never forget “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but we must also remember that Jefferson not only owned slaves, but sired slaves, and failed to free his slaves--even the ones he sired--even at his death.
Joyce Appleby, an historian who specializes in the “children of the Revolution”-the people, that is, who did not remember the Revolution but yet came to age in its shadow—does a good job of presenting a balanced portrait of this flawed man. For her, Jefferson is not a hypocrite or a grab bag of contrary qualities, but instead a man who was at once thoroughly of his own time and yet capable of a vision that transcend his age: the vision of the average farmer and home owner ruling over a democratic nation.
Of course his vision was flawed. It completely ignored the slave, and the native American, and the educated, capable woman too (when Jefferson’s Treasury Secretary suggested that women be hired for the low-paying position of calculators, Jefferson unequivocably said “no.”). But we must also not lose sight of the fact that all the other Founding Fathers (Paine excepted) thought the average propertied man, although permitted to vote, should still be governed by an elite class composed of the moneyed merchants and large landowners. And it was this vision that resulted in the half-century of “Jacksonian” democracy and the egalitarian settlements of the West.
Appleby concentrates on the presidency, beginning with the divisive election of 1800, including the successful first term (Barbary Pirates, Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition) and the less successful second (assertion of neutrality with France and England at war, the disastrous embargo). His personal style was casual, more democratic, and looser than his Federalist predecessors, but his method of pursuing policy—particular foreign policy—was almost Wilsonian in its moralism. (“Unlike the Federalists,” writes Appleby, “who accepted the world as a bad place in which one had to learn to maneuver skillfully, Jefferson bent to expediency but always sprang back to reassert principle.”)
Finally, Appleby wishes us to remember Jefferson’s as a great visionary (though it was a vision greatly flawed):
In an age in which most people could not think beyond their status, their class, their region, their religion—often beyond their village—Jefferson’s imaginative identification with universal freedom was extraordinary. His example enjoins us to take politics seriously, to remember that a democracy that doesn’t deliberate doesn’t rule, and to put our faith in free enquiry.
May 1, 2024
Coming To Terms With Thomas Jefferson
In her study for the American Presidents series, historian Joyce Appleby observes (p.132) that "America's most pressing history assignment is coming to terms with Thomas Jefferson." Indeed the variety of reviews on this site, and their varying assessments of Jefferson, themselves bear witness to the difficulties of understanding our third president. Appelby has written a nuanced, brief study of Jefferson's presidency with all its complexities and contradictions. She is more sympathetic to Jefferson than are many other scholars. Yet, she also lets the reader see Jefferson's flaws and inconsistencies. Her book gives the reader new to Jefferson a good starting point for understanding not only Jefferson's presidency but also some lasting issues in American political thought.
Jefferson wished to be remembered as the author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and as the Father of the University of Virginia. Appleby of necessity treads lightly on these and many other significant accomplishments to focus on Jefferson's fundamental ideas and on his presidency.
For Appleby, Jefferson was the founder of participatory democracy. While the other Founders, including Washington, Adams, and Hamilton tended towards an elitist concept of government in which the educated and well-born exercised disinterested political control, Jefferson sought a much broader base for political power and activity. Jefferson wanted to break down distinctions based on wealth or background for political participation. In practice, as Appelby points out, Jefferson expanded the scope of political participation to include all white males. The converse is that he continued to exclude African Americans, Native Americans, and women. But he still was far more inclusive than his contemporaries. And Jefferson laid the foundation, in his "self-evident" truth that "All men are created equal" for his successors over many years to see his own shortcomings and to pass beyond them.
On a broader level, Appleby insightfully describes Jefferson as the founder of one of the two main strains of American political thought. Jefferson was an enlightenment thinker who believed that people were essentially good and that they possessed the ability to understand and solve the issues confronting them. This is a key belief of most forms of political liberalism. Jefferson's opponents, exemplified by the Federalists and particularly by John Adams, evidenced a distrust of the human heart and an awareness of the mind's capacity for deception. They were inclined to put checks on the multitudes. Adams, as Jefferson's rival, has become the founding figure of the difficult and elusive part of American thought called conservatism. Jefferson was in his opposition to Washington and Adams and, in spite of himself, the founder of two-party politics in the United States.
Appelby begins her account of Jefferson's presidency with the election of 1800, one of the closest and least understood in our history. Jefferson assumed the presidency with the goal of limiting government and increasing the autonomy of the individual. Appleby describes Jefferson's astounding Louisiana Purchase, which greatly increased presidential power, as intended to promote Jeffersonian goals by opening up land to settlement by small, independent yeoman farmers. Appleby discusses well the important constitutional changes that were wrought during Jefferson's time, some by Jefferson himself -- as in the Louisiana Purchase -- and some by his opponent, Chief Justice John Marshall.
Jefferson's second term was plagued by his former Vice-president, Aaron Burr, who was tried for treason for attempting to lead a secession movement in the West. The nature of Burr's activities have always been obscure, but Jefferson actively sought his conviction. Burr was acquitted after a trial in which Chief Justice Marshall presided.
The closing years of Jefferson's presidency saw a great increase in tension between the United States and both Great Britain and France as the two European powers refused to respect American neutrality on the high seas. Late in his administration, Jefferson secured the enactment of an Embargo which resulted in great domestic divisiveness and near economic ruin. The Embargo would soon lead under President Madison to the War of 1812.
Appleby gives a brief account of Jefferson's life following his presidency, including the important correspondence he held with his former rival and friend, John Adams. Jefferson and Adams effected a reconciliation in the correspondence of their old age even though their philosophical differences remained. The reconciliation of these two Founders suggests that both Adams's conservatism and Jefferson's liberalism have much to contribute, in their insights and tensions, to a vibrant, thriving United States. Appleby's own sympathies in her fine thoughtful study are clearly with Jefferson and with the liberal tradition.
Robin Friedman
In her study for the American Presidents series, historian Joyce Appleby observes (p.132) that "America's most pressing history assignment is coming to terms with Thomas Jefferson." Indeed the variety of reviews on this site, and their varying assessments of Jefferson, themselves bear witness to the difficulties of understanding our third president. Appelby has written a nuanced, brief study of Jefferson's presidency with all its complexities and contradictions. She is more sympathetic to Jefferson than are many other scholars. Yet, she also lets the reader see Jefferson's flaws and inconsistencies. Her book gives the reader new to Jefferson a good starting point for understanding not only Jefferson's presidency but also some lasting issues in American political thought.
Jefferson wished to be remembered as the author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and as the Father of the University of Virginia. Appleby of necessity treads lightly on these and many other significant accomplishments to focus on Jefferson's fundamental ideas and on his presidency.
For Appleby, Jefferson was the founder of participatory democracy. While the other Founders, including Washington, Adams, and Hamilton tended towards an elitist concept of government in which the educated and well-born exercised disinterested political control, Jefferson sought a much broader base for political power and activity. Jefferson wanted to break down distinctions based on wealth or background for political participation. In practice, as Appelby points out, Jefferson expanded the scope of political participation to include all white males. The converse is that he continued to exclude African Americans, Native Americans, and women. But he still was far more inclusive than his contemporaries. And Jefferson laid the foundation, in his "self-evident" truth that "All men are created equal" for his successors over many years to see his own shortcomings and to pass beyond them.
On a broader level, Appleby insightfully describes Jefferson as the founder of one of the two main strains of American political thought. Jefferson was an enlightenment thinker who believed that people were essentially good and that they possessed the ability to understand and solve the issues confronting them. This is a key belief of most forms of political liberalism. Jefferson's opponents, exemplified by the Federalists and particularly by John Adams, evidenced a distrust of the human heart and an awareness of the mind's capacity for deception. They were inclined to put checks on the multitudes. Adams, as Jefferson's rival, has become the founding figure of the difficult and elusive part of American thought called conservatism. Jefferson was in his opposition to Washington and Adams and, in spite of himself, the founder of two-party politics in the United States.
Appelby begins her account of Jefferson's presidency with the election of 1800, one of the closest and least understood in our history. Jefferson assumed the presidency with the goal of limiting government and increasing the autonomy of the individual. Appleby describes Jefferson's astounding Louisiana Purchase, which greatly increased presidential power, as intended to promote Jeffersonian goals by opening up land to settlement by small, independent yeoman farmers. Appleby discusses well the important constitutional changes that were wrought during Jefferson's time, some by Jefferson himself -- as in the Louisiana Purchase -- and some by his opponent, Chief Justice John Marshall.
Jefferson's second term was plagued by his former Vice-president, Aaron Burr, who was tried for treason for attempting to lead a secession movement in the West. The nature of Burr's activities have always been obscure, but Jefferson actively sought his conviction. Burr was acquitted after a trial in which Chief Justice Marshall presided.
The closing years of Jefferson's presidency saw a great increase in tension between the United States and both Great Britain and France as the two European powers refused to respect American neutrality on the high seas. Late in his administration, Jefferson secured the enactment of an Embargo which resulted in great domestic divisiveness and near economic ruin. The Embargo would soon lead under President Madison to the War of 1812.
Appleby gives a brief account of Jefferson's life following his presidency, including the important correspondence he held with his former rival and friend, John Adams. Jefferson and Adams effected a reconciliation in the correspondence of their old age even though their philosophical differences remained. The reconciliation of these two Founders suggests that both Adams's conservatism and Jefferson's liberalism have much to contribute, in their insights and tensions, to a vibrant, thriving United States. Appleby's own sympathies in her fine thoughtful study are clearly with Jefferson and with the liberal tradition.
Robin Friedman
February 7, 2017
I've not read a lot of history, so I'm not positive that this isn't biased or something, but it certainly seems to be enlightening. However, I have been a careful student and auto-didact long enough to trust my judgement, and I do feel confident that I learned a lot of valid truth....
Short, fascinating, focused on the years when Jefferson was President, discussed from the perspective of politics. Anyone who follows presidential campaigns nowadays should read this and see how little some things have changed, and how much some current institutions and attitudes owe to Jefferson's vision and work.
You might know I'm interested in the difference between descriptive dictionaries and proscriptive usage manuals (to oversimplify). Jefferson was too. "Demoting dictionaries, he called them 'but the depositories of words already legitimized by usage,' while society became 'the workshop in which new ones were elaborated.' The very concept society--a coherent group of people conceptually different from family, church, and state--was novel when he wrote these words."
"It was slavery itself, in Jefferson's opinion, that made necessary the separation of the races after emancipation. Former master and former slave had to avoid the effects of 'deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites; ten thousand recollections, by the blacks, of the injuries they have sustained.'.... What Jefferson couldn't do was think himself and his country into a solution to the problem as he posed it: the ending of an institution so pernicious that it had permanently poisoned the souls of its perpetrators and victims." At least he did achieve a ban on African slave trade, in 1808.
"Ministers 'dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight' he wrote one friend." Thoughts like this shortly preceded his foundation of the Univ. of VA, which was meant to serve the 'sons of the South' as Columbia and the universities of New England could not properly do.
Well. Lots to think about in this concise work. I should read more history, I think, if I can find more like this (as opposed to the epic and the narrative that dominates the lists).
Short, fascinating, focused on the years when Jefferson was President, discussed from the perspective of politics. Anyone who follows presidential campaigns nowadays should read this and see how little some things have changed, and how much some current institutions and attitudes owe to Jefferson's vision and work.
You might know I'm interested in the difference between descriptive dictionaries and proscriptive usage manuals (to oversimplify). Jefferson was too. "Demoting dictionaries, he called them 'but the depositories of words already legitimized by usage,' while society became 'the workshop in which new ones were elaborated.' The very concept society--a coherent group of people conceptually different from family, church, and state--was novel when he wrote these words."
"It was slavery itself, in Jefferson's opinion, that made necessary the separation of the races after emancipation. Former master and former slave had to avoid the effects of 'deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites; ten thousand recollections, by the blacks, of the injuries they have sustained.'.... What Jefferson couldn't do was think himself and his country into a solution to the problem as he posed it: the ending of an institution so pernicious that it had permanently poisoned the souls of its perpetrators and victims." At least he did achieve a ban on African slave trade, in 1808.
"Ministers 'dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight' he wrote one friend." Thoughts like this shortly preceded his foundation of the Univ. of VA, which was meant to serve the 'sons of the South' as Columbia and the universities of New England could not properly do.
Well. Lots to think about in this concise work. I should read more history, I think, if I can find more like this (as opposed to the epic and the narrative that dominates the lists).
May 18, 2014
Book fourteen of my Presidential Challenge. This is the second book I've read in this "The American Presidents" book series and I find they read like extended Wikipedia entries: Heavy on facts, light on heart. Not necessarily a bad book, it gave me everything I needed to know. His easy first term, where the Louisiana Purchase fell right into his lap and his much less successful second term.
His Vice President, Aaron Burr. Only crap. There could never have been a VP that antagonized their President more than him. He dueled and murdered Alexander Hamilton which ended his career. WHILE he was still VP there were warrants out for his arrest! It didn't take too long for him to skip town, move out West and disappear forever...just kidding! He moved out West and may or may not have committed treason and barely avoided conviction! I'm sure Jefferson was like...hey Aaron, cool out! You're a white guy in the 1800's so you've already basically won the right place/right time on Earth lottery.
The book kind of shrugs its' shoulders at the whole Sally Hemings controversy. "Some people think he MAY have had sexual relations with one of his slaves and MAY have had children with her." Yeah, and I MAY have eaten a whole bag of Doritos last night. I know it happened, Joyce. You know it happened. Deal with it.
His popularity has wained in recent years because of the juxtaposition between saying all people are born with certain inalienable rights and then owning these people. But here's the deal, I'm not going to discount everything he says because he wasn't perfect. His good ultimately outweighed his bad in terms of his ideas and his actions. Whether or not he practiced what he preached, he was at least preaching the right method and got this country on the right track.
Although he has one particular quote that has been highjacked by the crazy fringe of this country:
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Look dumb dumbs, the tyranny of England was different from you having to pay property tax, okay? Deal with it.
I was very impressed by what I learned in this book but there is clearly a lot of depth that was left out of this book. Once my challenge is complete, I'll definitely return for some additional reading on this supremely important founding father.
His Vice President, Aaron Burr. Only crap. There could never have been a VP that antagonized their President more than him. He dueled and murdered Alexander Hamilton which ended his career. WHILE he was still VP there were warrants out for his arrest! It didn't take too long for him to skip town, move out West and disappear forever...just kidding! He moved out West and may or may not have committed treason and barely avoided conviction! I'm sure Jefferson was like...hey Aaron, cool out! You're a white guy in the 1800's so you've already basically won the right place/right time on Earth lottery.
The book kind of shrugs its' shoulders at the whole Sally Hemings controversy. "Some people think he MAY have had sexual relations with one of his slaves and MAY have had children with her." Yeah, and I MAY have eaten a whole bag of Doritos last night. I know it happened, Joyce. You know it happened. Deal with it.
His popularity has wained in recent years because of the juxtaposition between saying all people are born with certain inalienable rights and then owning these people. But here's the deal, I'm not going to discount everything he says because he wasn't perfect. His good ultimately outweighed his bad in terms of his ideas and his actions. Whether or not he practiced what he preached, he was at least preaching the right method and got this country on the right track.
Although he has one particular quote that has been highjacked by the crazy fringe of this country:
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Look dumb dumbs, the tyranny of England was different from you having to pay property tax, okay? Deal with it.
I was very impressed by what I learned in this book but there is clearly a lot of depth that was left out of this book. Once my challenge is complete, I'll definitely return for some additional reading on this supremely important founding father.
July 23, 2009
In his biography of Thomas Jefferson, titled "American Sphinx," Joseph Ellis tellingly says at one point (Page xvii): "As I have found him, there really is a core of convictions and apprehensions at his center. Although he was endlessly elusive and extraordinarily adroit at covering his tracks, there were bedrock Jeffersonian values that determined the shape of the political vision he projected so successfully onto his world. . . ."
Joyce Appleby, author of this brief volume in The American Presidents series, attempts to capture that elusiveness. As noted many times, this series provides brief, readable, and often (but not always) insightful analyses--but at the cost of depth. For many, that tradeoff is well worth it, and I would rather someone read a brief biography and think a bit about the subject rather than not read anything at all about the subjects. Appleby begins by noting that Jefferson (Page 1) ". . .instilled the nation with his liberal convictions," the two most important, in the author's eyes, being participatory politics and limited government. These were clearly central aspects of Jefferson's political philosophy. However, his enmity toward a hierarchical, ordered society dominated by an elite is undermined by his ambivalent views on, for example, slavery. Jefferson, as a person, is someone who often manifest conflicting elements to his thinking.
This book, to its credit, gives credit to Jefferson for his accomplishments, whether as ambassador to France, his role in authoring the Declaration of Independence, his advocacy for the political equality of white males--including those who were not persons of means. The work also juxtaposes those with his ambivalence about slavery (at one point, he fears that the country will have to suffer greatly for the "peculiar institution" and, at another point, he cannot conceive blacks and whites living together in amity and equality) and about gender (he could not conceive women as political equals, although he could treat individual women, such as daughters and Abigail Adams, with considerable respect). The book also straightforwardly addresses the issue of his relationship with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings. It also discusses his somewhat problematic behavior while serving in Washington's Cabinet, as he fought with Alexander Hamilton and authorized nasty newspaper attacks on the Administration.
As President, he presided over some great moments--the Louisiana Purchase, the taking seriously of political freedoms, the advocacy of political rights for the less well born, the opening of the West, the exploration of Lewis and Clark, the successful prosecution of the war against the Barbary pirates. On the other side, his cold approach toward native Americans, his failed economic policies directed against the French and British as the United States became a pawn in their struggle for supremacy, his inability to address the slavery issue (although he pushed legislation to end the slave trade at the earliest time possible under the Constitution--introducing yet again his ambivalences).
So, this is a useful short biography laying out this elusive character. Appleby meets, I think, the challenge of presenting this complex person in a slender volume. Worth looking at. . . .
Joyce Appleby, author of this brief volume in The American Presidents series, attempts to capture that elusiveness. As noted many times, this series provides brief, readable, and often (but not always) insightful analyses--but at the cost of depth. For many, that tradeoff is well worth it, and I would rather someone read a brief biography and think a bit about the subject rather than not read anything at all about the subjects. Appleby begins by noting that Jefferson (Page 1) ". . .instilled the nation with his liberal convictions," the two most important, in the author's eyes, being participatory politics and limited government. These were clearly central aspects of Jefferson's political philosophy. However, his enmity toward a hierarchical, ordered society dominated by an elite is undermined by his ambivalent views on, for example, slavery. Jefferson, as a person, is someone who often manifest conflicting elements to his thinking.
This book, to its credit, gives credit to Jefferson for his accomplishments, whether as ambassador to France, his role in authoring the Declaration of Independence, his advocacy for the political equality of white males--including those who were not persons of means. The work also juxtaposes those with his ambivalence about slavery (at one point, he fears that the country will have to suffer greatly for the "peculiar institution" and, at another point, he cannot conceive blacks and whites living together in amity and equality) and about gender (he could not conceive women as political equals, although he could treat individual women, such as daughters and Abigail Adams, with considerable respect). The book also straightforwardly addresses the issue of his relationship with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings. It also discusses his somewhat problematic behavior while serving in Washington's Cabinet, as he fought with Alexander Hamilton and authorized nasty newspaper attacks on the Administration.
As President, he presided over some great moments--the Louisiana Purchase, the taking seriously of political freedoms, the advocacy of political rights for the less well born, the opening of the West, the exploration of Lewis and Clark, the successful prosecution of the war against the Barbary pirates. On the other side, his cold approach toward native Americans, his failed economic policies directed against the French and British as the United States became a pawn in their struggle for supremacy, his inability to address the slavery issue (although he pushed legislation to end the slave trade at the earliest time possible under the Constitution--introducing yet again his ambivalences).
So, this is a useful short biography laying out this elusive character. Appleby meets, I think, the challenge of presenting this complex person in a slender volume. Worth looking at. . . .
May 1, 2011
This was a decent, short bio of Jefferson, however, at the end Appleby starts haranguing about Jefferson's moral failures - from her seat in the 21st century world. She basically blames all of America's racial problems on Jefferson implying that if he had only freed his slaves we never would have had racial issues. Right. No book is written without bias, however, the author here was clearly (and openly) not capable of letting Jefferson live in his century, rather she expected him to live in her century with her viewpoint and social mores which makes me question the validity of what she argues throughout the book.
January 7, 2018
I can't reconcile Jefferson's contradictions as easily as some I guess. He wrote of freedom and equality, but only for people who looked like him. He kept his own children in slavery and only freed them and their mother upon his death. No amount of good one does for his country can make up for the fact that he owned other people.
The biography itself is goo and full of important details but gets a bit dense. This is the second I have read in this president series and the Hoover book was like that as well.
The biography itself is goo and full of important details but gets a bit dense. This is the second I have read in this president series and the Hoover book was like that as well.
January 1, 2025
This is the 11th of the American Presidents series I have read, and the best written so far.
June 13, 2017
This felt like a rushed work. The ideas are at times vague and the work is disorganized. It feels like Appleby rushed this one, which is sad considering her otherwise fine body of work. I do agree that Jefferson's election in 1800 was a watershed that did much to ensure the republic would go on for decades.
September 17, 2025
I had read 31 books in this series over a period of 2016-2019. They are attractive little books, and although you can’t learn much from such short books they can give you a good introduction to each president. Because it had been so long since I had read a book in this series, I read the short preface by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (the preface is the same in each book in the series) and it was really good. I wasn’t crazy about the book itself. I thought maybe I had just lost my taste for American history (my historical interests swing more towards 2nd temple Judaism and early Christianity these days). However, upon reading the book about Zachary Taylor from this series immediately upon the heels of this book, I think I can say it really was the writing. This particular author just didn’t hold my interest the way the author of the Zachary Taylor book did.
One thing I did like about this book was that it was like stepping backwards in time. The little things amused me; like how the White House was called the President's House and Washington D.C. was called Washington City. Jefferson's answer to Gallatin, his treasury secretary, when Gallatin was having trouble filling posts and suggested appointing women to fill them, amused me: "The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared, nor am I." indeed, these were different times!
I was surprised when after the chapter about Jefferson's last days as president, these next chapter was about Jefferson's legacy. I was expecting a chapter on Jefferson's post-presidential life. That part did come later, in an epilogue. That last chapter though, before the epilogue, was my favorite of the book. There was a lot of discussion about Jefferson's attitudes towards slavery, race, and women. I did not know that the Constitution allowed for slave trade to continue for 20 years after its ratification. Jefferson is to be credited for introducing a proposal to Congress for the abolition of slave trade in 1808, the earliest allowable under the Constitution.
Appleby claims that Jefferson is the most talked about president in American history. I am typically skeptical of such unquantifiable claims, even from respected historians, but as I reflected upon the contents of this book, I realized the claim is defensible. I recognized many of the points enumerated in this book, like the giant cheese the Baptists gifted to Jefferson, or Jefferson's affair to Sally Fleming. These memorable recollections are not the sort of thing one associates with a run-of-the-mill president. Certainly there was nothing comparable in the book on Zachary Taylor (certainly *not* America's most talked about president!)
Nonetheless I learned plenty by reading this book. I was surprised to learn of the prevalence of dueling in the Jeffersonian period. More than a hundred men lost their lives in dueling during the first 20 years of the 19th century. If I knew Aaron Burr was tried for treason, I had forgotten that detail. This book made me realize what a fascinating character Aaron Burr was, and I need to read a biography of him.
My favorite sentence in the book was from the last chapter: "The true conservatives are those who view as dangerous the man or woman who resist the conventions, most of which have stood the critical test of time." As I consider this statement I realize that I have conservative tendencies. In particular, at a time when most Americans consider our system of government to be broken, I believe it to be remarkably resilient for all its flaws. Of course I resist many other conventions, especially religious ones. I still think it is fair to label myself as a moderate.
One thing I did like about this book was that it was like stepping backwards in time. The little things amused me; like how the White House was called the President's House and Washington D.C. was called Washington City. Jefferson's answer to Gallatin, his treasury secretary, when Gallatin was having trouble filling posts and suggested appointing women to fill them, amused me: "The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared, nor am I." indeed, these were different times!
I was surprised when after the chapter about Jefferson's last days as president, these next chapter was about Jefferson's legacy. I was expecting a chapter on Jefferson's post-presidential life. That part did come later, in an epilogue. That last chapter though, before the epilogue, was my favorite of the book. There was a lot of discussion about Jefferson's attitudes towards slavery, race, and women. I did not know that the Constitution allowed for slave trade to continue for 20 years after its ratification. Jefferson is to be credited for introducing a proposal to Congress for the abolition of slave trade in 1808, the earliest allowable under the Constitution.
Appleby claims that Jefferson is the most talked about president in American history. I am typically skeptical of such unquantifiable claims, even from respected historians, but as I reflected upon the contents of this book, I realized the claim is defensible. I recognized many of the points enumerated in this book, like the giant cheese the Baptists gifted to Jefferson, or Jefferson's affair to Sally Fleming. These memorable recollections are not the sort of thing one associates with a run-of-the-mill president. Certainly there was nothing comparable in the book on Zachary Taylor (certainly *not* America's most talked about president!)
Nonetheless I learned plenty by reading this book. I was surprised to learn of the prevalence of dueling in the Jeffersonian period. More than a hundred men lost their lives in dueling during the first 20 years of the 19th century. If I knew Aaron Burr was tried for treason, I had forgotten that detail. This book made me realize what a fascinating character Aaron Burr was, and I need to read a biography of him.
My favorite sentence in the book was from the last chapter: "The true conservatives are those who view as dangerous the man or woman who resist the conventions, most of which have stood the critical test of time." As I consider this statement I realize that I have conservative tendencies. In particular, at a time when most Americans consider our system of government to be broken, I believe it to be remarkably resilient for all its flaws. Of course I resist many other conventions, especially religious ones. I still think it is fair to label myself as a moderate.
October 31, 2018
Thomas Jefferson is the third book in The American Presidents series – a biographical series chronicling the Presidents of the United States. Joyce Appleby wrote this particular installment and edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Previously, he had been elected the second Vice President of the United States, serving under John Adams from 1797–1801. He was a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights motivating American colonists to break from Great Britain and form a new nation and produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national level.
Appleby convincingly argues that Thomas Jefferson's greatest legacies were limited government, albeit breached by opportunism that characterized his own presidency, and the great expansion of democracy. However, Appleby added many criticisms of the third president. As Thomas Jefferson seem more perfunctory than heartfelt and explains the Thomas Jefferson's poor record and tortured views on slavery and race.
Appleby concisely surveys the day's great issues—voting, democracy, political parties, commerce, and religion. However, such a balanced picture of Thomas Jefferson remains somehow unsatisfactory. Appleby praises the man who vanquished the Federalist Party and purchased the Louisiana Territory. Appleby tries to convince the reader that Thomas Jefferson was one of history's most intuitive politicians, but Thomas Jefferson remains the unfathomable political figure in American history.
Thomas Jefferson was written and researched extremely well. It showed a wonderful insight to the man who became the third President of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson is so multifaceted and long-lived that it is rather difficult to write a comprehensive biography and Appleby done rather well to give a wonderful brief study of the complex man. It is a somewhat cursory biography, covering the major incidences of his presidency, and it may have been targeted to a younger audience.
All in all, Thomas Jefferson is a wonderfully written biography of the third president and rather good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Previously, he had been elected the second Vice President of the United States, serving under John Adams from 1797–1801. He was a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights motivating American colonists to break from Great Britain and form a new nation and produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national level.
Appleby convincingly argues that Thomas Jefferson's greatest legacies were limited government, albeit breached by opportunism that characterized his own presidency, and the great expansion of democracy. However, Appleby added many criticisms of the third president. As Thomas Jefferson seem more perfunctory than heartfelt and explains the Thomas Jefferson's poor record and tortured views on slavery and race.
Appleby concisely surveys the day's great issues—voting, democracy, political parties, commerce, and religion. However, such a balanced picture of Thomas Jefferson remains somehow unsatisfactory. Appleby praises the man who vanquished the Federalist Party and purchased the Louisiana Territory. Appleby tries to convince the reader that Thomas Jefferson was one of history's most intuitive politicians, but Thomas Jefferson remains the unfathomable political figure in American history.
Thomas Jefferson was written and researched extremely well. It showed a wonderful insight to the man who became the third President of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson is so multifaceted and long-lived that it is rather difficult to write a comprehensive biography and Appleby done rather well to give a wonderful brief study of the complex man. It is a somewhat cursory biography, covering the major incidences of his presidency, and it may have been targeted to a younger audience.
All in all, Thomas Jefferson is a wonderfully written biography of the third president and rather good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
October 16, 2018
To be honest, I called Jefferson a douche more than once while listening to this book. But that is not exactly fair to judge an 18th century man by 21st century standards. That being said, I believe Appleby did a wonderful job creating a balanced image of Jefferson as being a forward thinker, but still a person of his time.
He was a flawed great thinker, and pretty much a contradiction at every turn. He opened the door for ordinary (white) men to be engaged in politics but not exactly open to anyone else as a possibility. He was active in establishing/enforcing the separation of church and state. While he thought slavery would and should end, he did not actively seek that end. He loved to party and pretty much went into debt entertaining people. He liked promoting the simplistic, ordinariness of America, but loved the finer things as well. He took great interest in his daughters' education, but felt that they shouldn't trouble with ("wrinkle their foreheads over) politics. He basically established a 2-party political system. He greatly believed in western expansion and a small federal government. He had the most stable cabinet ever with only 1 replacement in 2 terms. His vice president, Burr, was charged with murder (for the duel with Hamilton, which dueling was apparently super popular at the time) and later treason. Jefferson sought to break every protocol that reinforced social aristocracy and hierarchy. I mean, he even answered the door in pjs if someone knocked and he was passing by it!
So in summation, a lot happened and he believed a lot of stuff that made our country better for it. He lived out the changes he believed in, which regardless of how I personally feel about him, is pretty cool. Maybe a better judgement for him is to view him as a starting point for social change. How have we lived up to his ideals and how have we surpassed them? I believe we have achieved both, and will continue to strive to become a better nation for all its citizens.
He was a flawed great thinker, and pretty much a contradiction at every turn. He opened the door for ordinary (white) men to be engaged in politics but not exactly open to anyone else as a possibility. He was active in establishing/enforcing the separation of church and state. While he thought slavery would and should end, he did not actively seek that end. He loved to party and pretty much went into debt entertaining people. He liked promoting the simplistic, ordinariness of America, but loved the finer things as well. He took great interest in his daughters' education, but felt that they shouldn't trouble with ("wrinkle their foreheads over) politics. He basically established a 2-party political system. He greatly believed in western expansion and a small federal government. He had the most stable cabinet ever with only 1 replacement in 2 terms. His vice president, Burr, was charged with murder (for the duel with Hamilton, which dueling was apparently super popular at the time) and later treason. Jefferson sought to break every protocol that reinforced social aristocracy and hierarchy. I mean, he even answered the door in pjs if someone knocked and he was passing by it!
So in summation, a lot happened and he believed a lot of stuff that made our country better for it. He lived out the changes he believed in, which regardless of how I personally feel about him, is pretty cool. Maybe a better judgement for him is to view him as a starting point for social change. How have we lived up to his ideals and how have we surpassed them? I believe we have achieved both, and will continue to strive to become a better nation for all its citizens.
December 2, 2017
The book is a brief overview of Jefferson. The clear thesis of the author is on Jefferson’s belief that all white males should have an equal opportunity to rise to the level of their ability, and that they should be trusted to govern themselves. The book focuses on Jefferson’s ideology with his actions used mostly of illustrations of his ideas. There is surprising little in this book about his interactions with other people. For instance, his working relationship with James Madison is almost invisible. The people who get the most mention are those whose ideas differed with Jefferson. Aaron Burr and John Marshall appear a little more than might be expected in such a short book. Hamilton gets the expected attention. All others are mentioned less than I would expect.
The book was easy to read, but had strong opinions about Jefferson. For the most part he was described as a noble, common-sense leader who saw beyond his times and understood better than anyone that democracy was good. Many of his flaws were ignored. The hypocrisy and political scheming stressed by other authors are barely mentioned here, or they are actively excused. Appleby harshly criticizes him for hypocrisy over the issue of slavery. She also talks at length about his prejudices against women.
This book has great quotes from Jefferson illustrating the contrast between his rhetoric and his real ideas and actions concerning African Americans. There are also great quotes about his ideas about women, liberty, and the common man. The book has a clear explanation about the Burr conspiracy as well.
The book was easy to read, but had strong opinions about Jefferson. For the most part he was described as a noble, common-sense leader who saw beyond his times and understood better than anyone that democracy was good. Many of his flaws were ignored. The hypocrisy and political scheming stressed by other authors are barely mentioned here, or they are actively excused. Appleby harshly criticizes him for hypocrisy over the issue of slavery. She also talks at length about his prejudices against women.
This book has great quotes from Jefferson illustrating the contrast between his rhetoric and his real ideas and actions concerning African Americans. There are also great quotes about his ideas about women, liberty, and the common man. The book has a clear explanation about the Burr conspiracy as well.
July 22, 2022
The late Historian Joyce Appleby wrote a 2003 political biography of Thomas Jefferson for The American Presidents series. Appleby’s political biography is exclusively focused on the presidency of Jefferson and his political ideology. Appleby’s book has an Introduction, that introduces themes and the focus of Baker’s biography. Appleby’s biography has a chapter entitled “Coming to Terms with Thomas Jefferson” (132), which provides a well-written chapter and complex view of what to make of the person of Jefferson in the modern United States, which are from pages 132 to 150 of Appleby’s biography. This book includes a Timeline. Similar to the other books in The American Presidents series, Appleby’s biography of Jefferson is short, compelling, and well-researched. I feel like Appleby is in conversation with John Patrick Diggins’s biography of John Adams, which is interesting because Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were in a political conversation for a large portion of their lives (Diggins 5, 186). Both Appleby and Diggins’s two political biographies argue that the political philosophy of Jefferson and John Adams writes that the political philosophy influenced the history of the United States (Diggins 196, Appleby 156-157). Appleby writes that the presidency of Jefferson involved Jefferson’s “radical commitment to limiting government and his eradication of elite practices in the federal government” ideas that dominated American history until the election of 1860 and influenced the ideas of Abraham Lincoln, so the election of 1800 Appleby feels was a significant turning point in American history (Appleby 4-5, 137, 150). On a side note, Steve of the blog, My Journey through the Best Presidential Biographies has excellent reviews of several of The American Presidents series biographies.
Work Cited.
Diggins, John Patrick. 2003. John Adams. New York: Henry Holt and Company. [2011 Kindle edition].
January 11, 2025
Just finished "Thomas Jefferson" by Joyce Appleby from The American Presidents series of short biographies, covering the 43 Presidents who had held office by the time of the series' publication. As always, these books are great because they serve as a "greatest hits" of each president's life, instead of going too into detail on every aspect of their lives and careers. It makes them much more enjoyable and less intimidating to try and start reading. Jefferson has taken a lot of heat over the years because of his slave owner status, but zeroing in on that criticism ignores all the good things he also contributed to American history and our political culture. Could he have done more to end the practice? Probably. But he still accomplished quite a bit and helped lay the ground work in some ways for its eventual extinguishing as a practice. Most of us go our entire lives without ever achieving a level of power or influence to make any sort of lasting change whatsoever, so my opinion is to avoid the rush to judgment of our ancestors faults as we like to criticize football coaches' decisions on Monday morning. Hindsight is always 20/20 and we benefit from the failures and sacrifiices made by those who came before us.
March 5, 2017
To be fair, this third installment of The American Presidents Series from Joyce Appleby does indeed provide some interesting information about both the personal life and administration of our nation's third President, Thomas Jefferson.
However, in terms of understanding the position of Jefferson in the context of the birth of our young nation, the "John Adams" installment of "American Presidents" is actually just as effective (if not more so) in defining the most important aspects of Jefferson's thoughts, philosophies, and actions towards politics. The disputes between Adams (pro-government) and Jefferson (almost no-government intrusion) laid the backbone for party politics in the United States, and while reading this book I never really felt as if Appleby gave Jefferson a fair shake in laying out "his side of the story".
Thus, I still recommend reading this book for the useful information it expouses about other aspects of Jeffersonian America, but if (like I was) you are looking for a continuation of the fascinating Adams/Jefferson philosophical battle, you may be disappointed.
However, in terms of understanding the position of Jefferson in the context of the birth of our young nation, the "John Adams" installment of "American Presidents" is actually just as effective (if not more so) in defining the most important aspects of Jefferson's thoughts, philosophies, and actions towards politics. The disputes between Adams (pro-government) and Jefferson (almost no-government intrusion) laid the backbone for party politics in the United States, and while reading this book I never really felt as if Appleby gave Jefferson a fair shake in laying out "his side of the story".
Thus, I still recommend reading this book for the useful information it expouses about other aspects of Jeffersonian America, but if (like I was) you are looking for a continuation of the fascinating Adams/Jefferson philosophical battle, you may be disappointed.
November 9, 2025
Appleby somehow manages to express admiration to the point of excess and disdain that woefully reveals an anachronistic evaluation all in one volume. While every biography is bound to reveal the worldview and political philosophy of its author, Appleby allowed hers to ooze through to the point of distraction. This brief volume is poorly organized and felt like a slog to read. At times it felt more like a history of the era rather than a biography of President Jefferson. I would discourage others from reading this title and finding a different biography of the nation’s third president. Appleby’s obsession with Jefferson in the early chapters distracts the reader from actually evaluating the debate between republicans and federalists. Her insistence on evaluating Jefferson’s faults through the lens of 21st century morality also distract the reader from evaluating how Jefferson compares with his contemporaries.
March 26, 2021
When Joyce Appleby wrote this is 2003, Jefferson was already a problematic figure: slave owner, not a supporter of women’s rights, anti-Native American (apparently he’s been problematic among historians for over a century). He definitely deserves some hate. But he also deserves our attention and study. His words, his ideas, his ideals have inspired global generations of lovers of freedom, democracy, pursuers and “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” That such a man who could write such enlightened and eloquent philosophies could conversely practice despicable deeds is enigmatic and fascinating. Appleby doesn’t sweep any of Jefferson’s oxymorons under the rug. The book is short, but in that small space she gives us the good, the bad and the ugly of our Sphinx president.
March 25, 2022
Definitely better out there about Jefferson. Book was okay and was hard to get through even though it’s only 150 pages. Jefferson is an enigma. Helped to found West Point, led the Louisiana purchase and helped write the Declaration of Independence. At the same time spoke about the importance of equality of people but did little to promote it. He owned, bought and sold slaves and upon his death did not release them. Spent a good amount of time in his presidency dealing with British and French affairs.Hamilton lost the duel with Burr/ his Vice President during his presidency. Refused a 3rd term and lived out his life at Monticello hosting lavish countless parties and events on some beautiful grounds in Virginia-which he loved
June 1, 2018
I am continuing to listen to The American Presidents series in audio-book format. It was fascinating to listen to John Patrick Diggins' take on John Adams followed by Appleby's take on Thomas Jefferson. The contrast with Federalist and Republican and the issues of aristocracy and participatory democracy were fascinating. Appleby also highlights both the boisterous nature of participatory democracy in post-revolutionary America, the repercussions, and the tensions between Jefferson's rhetoric about freedom and his attitude toward slaves, Native Americans and woman. Jefferson really is a fascinating subject and this short volume is a engaging introduction.
November 7, 2018
I think that Thomas Jefferson by Joyce Appleby was a very good book to read. The book thoroughly explains the journey that Jefferson took in his life. It tells the road Jefferson took to become president and what he did after he was out of office. The only part about it that was not enjoyable was how it was too "wordy". I am usually able to read for hours on end, but this book was just a bit, well, boring. If you are looking to find a book with lots of information about Jefferson, then you should definitely read this one. To me, the information about Jefferson was very detailed and helpful, but I could barely read a lot of it at once due to how bored it made me. So all in all, the book's contents are great, but they are stated in a way that doesn't suit me.
February 26, 2019
I’ve mixed feelings on this one. The author often came across as biased in his choice of adjectives/adverbs which isn’t my favorite in a bio. Additionally, there were times when he made an argument on TJ’s behalf and blatantly left out information that rounds out the story I know from multiple other bios. After these aggravations, I was surprised to find a fairly thorough section analyzing how history has viewed TJ, his being so controversial, and how difficult it is to reconcile the man and all his views, on slavery, women and so forth. So, yeah, mixed feelings.
March 24, 2023
I read this book in 2020. I have no idea what happened to my review and I will circle back to complete it.
I found it...it was listed as an eBook in 2020.
This is another book from the American Presidents Series. I enjoy these quick reads as I journey through American history in chronological order.
The author does a great job detailing parts of Jefferson's life without immersing herself in defending or criticizing him. The book touches on the pros and cons of his life which is really what I expect from any biography as opposed to a one-sided view.
I found it...it was listed as an eBook in 2020.
This is another book from the American Presidents Series. I enjoy these quick reads as I journey through American history in chronological order.
The author does a great job detailing parts of Jefferson's life without immersing herself in defending or criticizing him. The book touches on the pros and cons of his life which is really what I expect from any biography as opposed to a one-sided view.
March 15, 2020
This book had so much information about Jefferson that I recommend anyone who wants to know about our Founding Fathers and early presidents should take the time to read it. I now know what all the rancor associated with the election of 1800 was really about. I also found it interesting that Apelby addressed in the final chapter just why Americans are so ambivalent about Jefferson and discussed how and why his reputation has waxed and waned over the nearly 200 years since his death.
November 22, 2017
I am singularly unimpressed with this American Presidents series. I suppose it could be the brevity of each book; it is difficult to summarize a person's life, or even an eight-year Presidency, in less than 200 pages. Thomas Jefferson, in particular, is a complex personality with many facets: philosopher, inventor, naturalist, statesman, and slaveholder.
February 22, 2021
Contrary to my expectations, this is not a brief biography of Jefferson with particular emphasis on his time in office. Rather, it is mostly about the political culture of the early republic (particularly the birth of party politics) and Jefferson's relation to it; indeed, the latter is often used as a mere framing device to discuss the former. Interesting reading, but caveat emptor and all that.
February 26, 2017
Enlightening. Jefferson's life was indeed a paradox.
March 1, 2018
This series of brief presidential biographies continues to deliver and doesn't shy away from the contradictions in Jefferson's legacy.
April 9, 2020
A fairly short book and an enjoyable read, chock full of information and musings of this complicated man -- his huge successes and his unfortunate failings.
May 25, 2021
I've read 4 Jefferson books this year. I thought this one did the best job of delineating Jefferson's issues with the Federalists.
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