Thomas Jefferson: The First Draft of History

 

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of a new history of the world. In that document, later revised by the Continental Congress, Jefferson called for the abolition of slavery. Here is the first draft. 

Jefferson's call for the end of slavery did not survive the revisions by the delegates, but it was clear to Jefferson and many, if not enough, of the founders that the end of slavery was necessary to truly throw off tyranny.  

Last year I read  Jon Meacham's biography of Jefferson. If you are interested in the life of the second President, Meacham's biography is excellent.  It includes this cheeky quote from our 35th President:

In a famous toast at a White House dinner in honor of 49 Nobel Prize winners, President John F. Kennedy said, 

“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” 

I wrote more about Meacham's biography here.

Reading about Jefferson was part of trying to understand how the country began and how we got to the place we are now in on the 247th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

I also read First Principles by Thomas Ricks about what the founders learned  from Ancient Greek and Roman cultures about government and how they used it to shape America. 

David McCullough's amazing book 1776 was also part of my reading about Jefferson and the founders.  It could be a novel it is so fast paced. It is the best history book I have read in a long time. 

When a friend asked what five people in all of history I would want to have dinner with, Jefferson was on the list.

The cultural critic Neil Postman wrote about the effect the American founders have had on world culture since 1776.  There is a long quote from the book in this post about the symbols of revolution in the late 20th Century.  When the Soviet empire fell apart, the words of the Declaration of Independence were heard across Eastern Europe.

As we approach the 250th  anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I am hoping the spirit and brilliance of the founders can hold us together despite so many millions of Americans clamoring for tyranny.  One Nation Under God, for as long as we can keep it.