Thomas Jefferson Malone, Dumas. Thomas Term Paper

For Jefferson, severing from England was never merely economic in its intention, rather he envisioned an entire separation of church and state, a secular and truly republican nation run by a "natural aristocracy of talent and virtue" elected by the "enlightened" (17).

However, Malone seems determined to ignore the more unsavory aspects of Jefferson's reputation. Malone states categorically that Jefferson's "illicit relations" with is slave Sally Heurings is "wholly out of character" and there is no evidence it took place (42). Malone's determination to cast no aspersions on Jefferson's reputation is also obvious in his choice of language.He describes Jefferson's slaves welcomed Jefferson "tumultuously" (implying they were happy) when the Founding Father returned from a journey (24). Ultimately, because the book is so insistent on focusing on Jefferson the hero, the humanity of this man who was both of his time and ahead….....