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Thomas Jefferson


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Study Questions

What were Jefferson's most significant contributions to his country?


How did Jeffersons public policies clash with his personal values?


What specific steps did Jefferson take to make America a more egalitarian society?


Essay Topics

Was Jefferson truly devoted to the cause of democracy?

How did Jeffersons views on the interpretation of the Constitution change over time?

In what ways did Jefferson strengthen and/or weaken the power of the presidency?

How did Jeffersons policy decisions reflect regional, and particularly southern, interests?

How would Jefferson have reacted to the impending Civil War crisis in the 1850s?

What were Jeffersons biggest blunders as a politician? How could he have avoided them?

In the final analysis, should Jefferson be considered an American hero or an American villain?