Customer Reviews

Who Was Thomas Jefferson?

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This author spends five pages reporting on the Jefferson-Hemings controversy and gets it wrong in most instances.

* There is NO proof that Thomas Jefferson's wife and Sally Henings were half sisters as Mr. Fradin claims (see McMurry book, "Anatomy of a Scandal."

* There is NO information anywhere that Jefferson began a relationship with Sally except an unproven claim by Madison Hemings who has been found to be inaccurate on several claims such as his naming.......FALSE. here is also NO proof that Thomas and Sally became fond of each other as Mr. Fradin claims. He also claims a forty year relationship which is unprovable.

* He states that in 1789, Sally Hemings became pregnant and Thomas Jefferson was the father. If Mr. Fradin had cared to research the facts he would have found that the original Callender Campaign Lie of September 1802 was DISPROVEN by the DNA Study. There was NO match of the DNA between Jefferson and Tom Woodson, the subject of the James Callender lie.

* Mr. Fradin says that over the next nineteen years they had six more children. There is absolutely NO proof of this. Not only that, it was over five years after they had returned to Monticello before ANY registered child for Sally was made. Only one Hemings descendant was DNA tested, HOW could Mr. Fradin make his outrageous claims. How can we be sure that his several other children books are accurate? Mr. Fradin your are remiss in distributing false and inaccurate information for our youthful readers.

I recommend that the books listed on the above mentioned web pages be read regarding the Jefferson-Hemings Controversy.

Herbert Barger
Jefferson Family Historian

By:Andrew "Who was Thomas Jefferson" took place from 1743-1826 in the thirteen original colonies. One thing I liked about the story is that it also told you things that affected his life. Another reason I liked this book is the text tells you about his hobies. Like fossil collecting and inventing. Though you might think his life must of been great, he actualy had many hurtful things happen to him. For example, Thomas lost his wife in 1782 and, when Jefferson was govoner of Virginia he was almost killed by the British. One more terrible thing that happened to him was when he was older, he was 100,000 dollars in debt which is 2,000,000 dollars today. But he was able to pay it off by selling his posessions. Friends and even strangers donated money to help him. In the story they tell you many great things in his life like how he was the third president of the U.S. of America. So Thomas was famous for a veiaty of reasons. yet he also had a more difficult life then you or me that is one thing you'll learn reading this book.

I bought a class set of these because it covers just about everything about Jefferson. (Including Sally Hemmings affair) Although it is written in a very easy format, it drew in my 8th graders and we breezed through it in a couple of short class periods. It is a nice read with a visualizer as well. The pictures are black and white but bold and well drawn.

My son came home with this book for his 3rd grade biography book report. I was reading through it so that i could quiz him to make sure that he read it. There is MUCH inappropriate material dfor a 3rd grader. It is designed for elementary students....but it includes the details of getting his slave, Sally, pregnant (exact word used) at 14 years old. Sally was also Martha's half sister since her dad also had six children with one of his slaves. INAPPROPRIATE!!! This is not an exaggeration!! They also went on to talk about how our Nation's Father died in great debt. How is any of this educational or inspirational to an 8 year old. Someone was lacking some great judgement!!

I had my 3rd graders read this for a book report. They asked me, "I didn't know that Jefferson had children with a slave girl". I didn't know what they were talking about. So, I read the book myself. I then did research to find out that this was not true and it probably was Jefferson Brother. It has been DNA tested and proven that this is not true. Also the dates are not correct on the life of Jefferson father and no bibliography. These authors are trying to discredit our founding fathers! Jefferson was a good man with a high moral character. I went to Washington D.C. to find all these books on the selves at the National Archives. I was so disappointed to see them selling these books in a place that they have the answers to prove that this is false teaching our children and parents to not respect such a generous man, talented,gentleman, inventor, musician,farmer, writer, fundamental to our countries governmental practices and theories, and amazing architecture talent. I would never buy any of " Who is"books again.
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