Daily Jefferson: June 19, 1802 Letter to Joseph Priestley on Jefferson's Role in the Constitution
In this June 19, 1802 letter, Jefferson wrote to Joseph Priestley to correct his understand of Jefferson’s role in shaping the Constitution. Jefferson wrote: one passage, in the paper you inclosed me, must be corrected. it is the following. ‘and all say that it was yourself more than any other individual, that planned & established…
Read MoreCharleston Shooter Targeted Blacks During Prayer Meeting (UPDATED – Wanted to Start Race War)
There are many bizarre and horrid aspects to the Charleston massacre of eight black church members. This post brings together some of the coverage of the tragedy with links to the poisonous words of white supremacists by the alleged shooter, Dylann Roof. Roof sat in the prayer meeting for about an hour before he began shooting. According to a…
Read MoreDaily Jefferson: June 18, 1799 Letter to a Student on the Study of Math, Science and Human Nature
Jefferson believed science and education would take mankind to a new level of progress. In this June 18, 1799 letter to student William Munford, Jefferson answers a question about the usefulness of studying math and science. He then expands on his view that human nature is generally good. The entire letter follows: I have to…
Read MoreTen Years of Blogging: The Trail of Tears Remembered
One of the most popular posts ever is this one about the Trail of Tears. It showed up on the top ten most popular posts for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013. I wrote about the Trail of Tears in response to the American Family Association’s spokesman Bryan Fischer’s incendiary comments about Native Americans. Fischer…
Read MoreDaily Jefferson: Jefferson on Blackstone and British Common Law
According to David Barton, Thomas Jefferson thought Sir William Blackstone was foundational to legal practice. However, Jefferson felt a reliance on Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England by American law students had led to what he called the “degeneracy of legal science.” In fact, Jefferson told Judge John Tyler in this June 17, 1812 letter that…
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