Thomas Jefferson and the Composition of the Declaration

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence · May 13, 2025 · 54m

with Andrew Sola and Prof. Robert McDonald (US Military Academy-West Point)

Who was Thomas Jefferson and how did he come to write the Declaration of Independence at the tender age of 33?

In this episode, historian Robert McDonald (US Military Academy) discusses the genius of Thomas Jefferson. Topics include the following:

-Jefferson's evolution into a revolutionary

-The long tradition of self government in the Colonies

-The process of composing the Declaration of Independence

-The deletion of the passage condemning slavery (see the full passage below)

-Jefferson's reputation in his own time…