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In his book, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson (1996), Joseph Ellis begins with a description of the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. At this event, he describes how Jefferson arrived at the meeting dressed like an aristocrat and was accompanied by three slaves.

Though he studied law and was well educated in politics, Jefferson was a poor speaker. When asked to give an address about some points for the legislators to consider, he told them that he had been ill and sent the list instead. The list became popularly known as “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.” It was then distributed among other colonies.

Jefferson began building a house called Monticello in 1768. He was not known for giving speeches, but he did give two addresses as president. His dinner gatherings with political adversaries were very effective at influencing them to his way of thinking.

Jefferson was chosen to be on a committee that would write the Declaration of Independence. He and other members, including Adams and Franklin, worked together to draft the document. Jefferson wrote it quickly, in just a few days.

Jefferson served as the governor of Virginia from 1779-1781. He worked to improve its economy, despite being in a war with England. However, he was not known for his international political skills at this time. He became close friends with John Adams and corresponded regularly with James Madison and James Monroe after the death of his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.

He was appointed Secretary of State in 1790. He had different views on the government than Alexander Hamilton, who wanted a stronger government. They often argued about their opinions and beliefs.

After losing a bid for the presidency against John Adams in 1797, Thomas Jefferson returned to Monticello. At this point, he decided that his public life was over and he would focus on his family life and farming.

Jefferson won the next presidency. He walked to the Capitol from his boarding house instead of riding in a fancy carriage and being accompanied by slaves, symbolic of his intention to follow through on his platform to minimize federal government power. As he took office peacefully, Americans realized that they were different from other countries because transfers of power weren’t usually met with resistance or violence there.

Jefferson became president in 1801 and paid off the national debt. He also doubled the size of the U.S. by buying territory from Napoleon, but Ellis doesn’t go into detail about Jefferson’s second term because he was dying at that time. However, we can find out what happened to him in his last few years by reading letters that he wrote to his former mentor John Adams, who died before they could meet again.

Both Jefferson and Adams died on July 4, 1862. They had been friends for a long time and both were important figures in the American Revolution. Ellis mentions that Jefferson owned slaves, but he doesn’t go into detail about how they interacted with him or his family members. He does mention that one of them, James Hemings, went to France with him when he was young so he could study French cuisine. Burwell tended to Jefferson in his final years of life. Despite wanting to “watch over” his slaves like children, Jefferson believed white people were superior to black people because God intended it this way; therefore slavery was okay. The only slaves that Jefferson freed were Sally Hemings and her four children.

The author of the book states that there is no evidence to support the claim that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with his slave, Sally. He also says that it’s unlikely for such a relationship to occur.