Thomas Jefferson: The Art Of Power

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, begins with the thoughts and quotes of other American presidents. Each explain their thoughts about Jefferson as if he was thought of in a different way than the rest. He was a founding father who playing several significant roles throughout history that have helped shape this great nation. This work written by Jon Meacham is a biography that depicts Jefferson as a very educated man. One who put the interests of a new nation ahead of his own desires. Meacham has had much experience researching and writing about our founding fathers. His writing in Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power follows a timeline that is also used in our class textbook.
Jefferson was a very educated man that understood the importance
of learning. From a small boy he dedicated much of his time to studying. As he got older he continued his education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He used what he had learned in college to start his career in law and politics. Much later in life he founded George Washington University in Virginia. I believe this book was meant not only for academic learning, but also anyone in America. All of his effort and work that helped shape the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and many other treaties and laws is our nation’s history. It is what ties us all together.
The title of the book depicts how Jefferson used his power in a way that was smart and beneficial to his cause. “The Art of Power,” these four words explain the ways in which Jefferson’s life changed throughout the years and how he adjusted to them. Not all people can maintain such social and political rank, lose their wife and home, and rebuild a new dynasty as he did. From growing up in a wealthy family and being a successful founding father, land owner and plantation head to a bankrupt man near the end of his life. The power in which he held was not always to his benefit.

Jefferson had many experiences in his life that contributed to the wisdom he gained. From being born into privilege and having a father that set a high standard to being a father and head of home to two women in his lifetime he experienced what a lot of men during that time period did not. His first wife went along with the traditional socioeconomic standard of the time, however when she died and Jefferson fathered children with his wife’s slave maid he experienced what it was like to see things in a different light. He was forced to keep his life with her a secret because of the way inter-racial relationships were seen during that time.
In this book, Meacham shows both positive and negative side to Jefferson, his views, and the life he lived. Whether people agreed with his decisions or not. Jefferson was not afraid to use his power in whatever way he saw fit. I believe Meacham was able to explain things from both sides without making Jefferson seem like a hypocrite. Meacham writes, “Politics are kaleidoscopic, constantly shifting, and the morning’s foe may well be the afternoon’s friend.” Jefferson understood the complexity of politics and the people involved. I feel that this was one of his strongest strengths as a founding father of our nation. Meacham explains that Jefferson felt that politics were part of who we was as a person and that if people acted fairly as much as they could, then both sides of the political parties could work together to provide a balanced and sound government.
In Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Meacham does an excellent job showcasing the history that was actually happening during the time after the Revolutionary war and how people thought and lived. He explains happenings that fit the historical timeline. Because times have changed so much in America it would have been easy to become confused or feel that many of his topics were irrelevant, however I believe he did a great job. I really enjoyed reading this book.