Thomas Jefferson: Father of Democracy

U.S. Landmark Books #36

by Vincent Sheean, Warren Chappel (Illustrator)

One of the Landmark series of american history for children

Genres: History, Biography

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1953

Reviews

[Kevin Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography was written for kids back in 1953. I'm fairly certain my junior high school library still had a set of these Landmark Books in the 1970s. Some of the sentence structure is odd compared to how we write 70 years later, but that actually provides a look into how people thought and looked at history back then.

The author covers Jefferson's youth well, but he does not go into much detail. What really makes this interesting (to me anyway) is that more time is given to Jefferson's contributions after the Revolutionary War. He correctly points out that Jefferson is why we have the Bill of Rights, a document unique even today and that our Westward Expansion really began with him and the Louisiana Purchase.

The ending feels a bit rushed, glossing over how he nearly lost Monticello due to his excessive spending. However, the volume is well indexed, and the works of Jefferson and his contemporaries are italicized for easy reference.

Recommended for fans of biographies, Thomas Jefferson specifically, or the Founding Fathers in general.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reliving my childhood by re-reading Landmark history books first read nearly 60 years ago. How ironic that both Jefferson and John Adams would die on July 4, 1826, 50 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

A good guess would be that our 45th president doesn't have a tenth of the intelligence of either Jefferson or Adams. How sad.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good middle grade (maybe 5th-7th grades?) biography of Thomas Jefferson.

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic introduction to this great man's life, the best that could be writ for children.

[chancy Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. It is simplified and would be a very good read for a younger reader. Still has some great information and tells the story of Jefferson's life in an easy to read maner.

[Jake Keyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect summary of Jefferson for grades 7-9. I always like to look at older books and see if the perspective from 60 years ago is any different than how we view them today. In 1953 it would appear the adoration for Jefferson is similar to the one held in 2015. At the end of the book the author quotes Abraham Lincoln as saying, "Every party in our country reckons Jefferson as its patron saint." I think that statement reigns true in Lincolns time, the books time, and our time.