The story of the United States of America is one of a nation founded upon the loftiest ideals of representative government, attempting to fulfill its goals while encountering competing domestic and global forces. From the beginning, Americans debated how their national government should govern, balancing powers between the federal government and the states, which led to the establishment of the first political parties. At the same time, the nation has struggled to reconcile its guarantee of universal rights and individual ...
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The story of the United States of America is one of a nation founded upon the loftiest ideals of representative government, attempting to fulfill its goals while encountering competing domestic and global forces. From the beginning, Americans debated how their national government should govern, balancing powers between the federal government and the states, which led to the establishment of the first political parties. At the same time, the nation has struggled to reconcile its guarantee of universal rights and individual liberties with several stark realities, including the presence of millions of slaves at the time of the Declaration of Independence. Nobody spent more time in the thick of these debates than Thomas Jefferson, one of the most famous and revered Americans. Jefferson was instrumental in all of the aforementioned debates, authoring the Declaration of Independence, laying out the ideological groundwork of the notion of states' rights, leading one of the first political parties, and overseeing the expansion of the United States during his presidency. But for all of his accomplishments, Jefferson's reputation and legacy are still inextricably intertwined with the divisive issues of his own day. As the slaveholder who wrote that all men are created equal, and his relationship with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings, Jefferson's life and career are still sometimes fiercely debated today.
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I found the book to be very thoughtful reading, and it took comparing the Jefferson Bible alongside a standard Bible to see which things he eliminated because he considered them unscientific or unbelievable. The content which remained was still convincing, but without exaggeration, in my mind.
Jacklyn S
Jul 26, 2012
Interesting Bible
Had heard of the Jefferson Bible and found it interesting to see how Jefferson selected the passages and sections HE felt were important. As one of our founding fathers, it gives us an insight as to the man and his mindset.
Robert Kavanaugh
May 9, 2012
Helpful
Any student of Jefferson must read this book. It helps define him.
rogern
Dec 1, 2011
Jefferson Bible
A very interesting view of one of our founding Fathers
religious beliefs. A well thought through document with a very unusual insight to his times.