Thomas Jefferson for Kids

His Life and Times with 21 Activities

Brandon Marie Miller

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• eBook ISBN:
  9781569769423
• Year: 2011

Drawing heavily from the original letters and papers of Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries, this resource chronicles the world of the Founding Father who wrote the Declaration of Independence. From his early critiques of the colonial policies of Great Britain and King George III to his governmental roles as the first secretary of state, the minister to France, and the third president of the United States, Jefferson's groundbreaking achievements are described in historical context. The contradictions in Jefferson's character—most notably the fact that he owned 600 slaves in his lifetime despite penning the immortal phrase "all men are created equal"—are also explored, giving kids a full picture of this skilled politician. Creative activities that invite children to experience Jefferson's colonial America include designing a Palladian window, building a simple microscope, painting a "buffalo robe," and dancing a reel.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Time Line
• Note to Readers
• 1 “Bold in the Pursuit of Knowledge”
• 2 “His Majesty Has No Right”
• 3 “In Open Rebellion”
• 4 An American in Paris
• 5 “The Hated Occupations of Politics”
• 6 “By Which I Most Wish to Be Remembered”
• Places to Visit and Websites to Explore
• Further Reading for Young People
• Selected Bibliography
• Index