Reading Jefferson
Tuesdays, September 22 - October 27
7:15-8:45pm ET


COURSE DESCRIPTION

What are we to make of Thomas Jefferson? He drafted the Declaration, championed democracy and popular sovereignty, battled for religious liberty, doubled the country’s size, and founded one of our premier universities – plus served as the first secretary of state, the second vice president, and the third president. On the other side of the ledger, however, he celebrated bloody violence in France, secretly schemed against George Washington, promoted an agrarian society and a limited national government, confiscated lands of the “merciless Indian savages,” attacked the federal judiciary, and aggressively prosecuted his own vice president – plus owned, bought, and sold scores of other human beings.

This discussion-based class will explore these issues, and many others. We will read widely in Jefferson’s own writings, including his political tracts, official documents, public speeches, and private letters. Our goal will be to place Jefferson in his political and social context, as well as to think critically about his lasting historical legacy.


COURSE FORMAT
This is an interactive online seminar course that meets weekly over 6 weeks. Live online sessions will use the zoom platform. Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. Weekly sessions will be recorded and available for registered participants to access throughout the course.
There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.

COURSE MATERIALS
This course requires participants to purchase reading materials.

REQUIRED – please purchase:

Thomas Jefferson: Writings, ed. Merrill D. Peterson (Library of America, 1984) (hardcover; ISBN 978-0940450165); https://www.loa.org/books/67-writings/

RECOMMENDED:

Biography

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Jon Meacham (Random House, 2012)

Jefferson the Virginian + Jefferson and the Rights of Man + Jefferson and the Ordeal of Liberty + Jefferson the President: First Term + Jefferson the President: Second Term + Jefferson and His Time: The Sage of Monticello, Dumas Malone (Little, Brown, 1948 – 1981)

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, Joseph J. Ellis (Knopf, 1997)

History

Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789 – 1815, Gordon S. Wood (Oxford University Press, 2009)

American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, Pauline Maier (Knopf, 1997)

Registrants will receive access to the course website and the zoom links about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to September 7. After September 7, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.