Selected as alternate to Virginia delegation to Continental Congress (Randolph elected to stay).

His pamphlet “A Summary of Rights…” was meant for Virginia delegation but was too radical and went viral; claimed Parliament had zero authority over colonies (Adams agreed).

Hated Patrick Henry cause of his emotional oratory style which moved the public and could undo behind-the-scenes work.

Took extensive notes in readings, copying them but adding own revisions, called it “commonplacing”

Colonies were at once already at war with Britain and also insisting they wanted to avoid all-out war.

Summer of 1775 drafted “Declaration of Causes and Necessity” which acted as dress rehearsal for process of compromise in drafting Declaration.

Most delegates assumed state constitutions and matters were much more important priorities than federal ones.

Writing Declaration was almost afterthought because of war raging; Jefferson basically rehashed his previous writings and Virginia constitution.

Resented Adams’ consistently undercutting realism.

Was a Francophile but denounced European/French decadence.

Talked up emancipation abroad in spite of his and Virginia’s politics.

Hated conflict; hence duplicity was just politeness—pleasing many audiences at once.

Head and heart wired independently; deaf to doubt and irony

Was overly optimistic in his assessments of pre-revolutionary France.

Drafted Declaration of Rights for Lafayette for National Assembly in 1789.

Fantastical “generational sovereignty” repudiated all the Constitution work (new laws and no debts after about 20 years); “the earth belongs to the living” a repudiation of French feudalism

Truly hated England and everything about it.

Truly hated Hamilton; different styles and opposite ideologies.

Began speaking for the Country Party (anti-Federalism) and referred more to “the people” than “the public.”

His debt came largely from inheritance, wartime inflation, declining productivity of land in his absence, and his own spending.

Started a nailery to produce income; not very Jeffersonian.

Monticello under construction for basically his whole life

Jay Treaty got him back into politics.

Was still OK with Adams in 1796 when he won.

Wrote a nice letter to Adams but Madison nixed it; both men chose party over friendship

Inauguration Day: didn’t like or trust Marshall or Burr.

Learned more examples of Washington than from Adams.

A “textual presidency,” mostly invisible but powerful in ideas and text.

Thought Federalists and Indians would survive by ceasing to be themselves.

Louisiana Purchase resulted from L’Ouverture revolt and mosquitoes.

James Callendar = Matt Drudge

Distinguished between Adams the man and Adams’ politics.

Each challenged the other’s ideology and beliefs in the letters.

Kept pushing Spirit of ’76 while Madison did Spirit of ’87 re: Supreme Court’s judicial review.

Adams and Madison informed Jefferson of needs for liberation and limits; harness the energy released for independence.

University of Virginia had no president until 1904 per Jefferson’s utopian vision of self-government.