If we asked young students in a poll to reveal what they know about Thomas Jefferson, most responses would include mention of his presidency, his involvement with the founding fathers, and Monticello, his home in Virginia. The majority of students in the United States, college students included, have little to no knowledge of Jefferson’s personal life, as many historical records skim over the details. Although Jefferson was a fascinating president and founding father, his intrigue to historians extends into his personal life, in which he fathered many children, and lived a complicated life. Jon Meacham, an author and historian, uncovers these details in his book, Thomas Jefferson: President & Philosopher. In accordance with the modern practice of leaning towards biased history, or purifying details for teaching purposes, Meacham’s strong depiction of Thomas Jefferson’s personal life is …show more content…
Jefferson’s relationships do not lessen his achievements as a leader and politician, nor do they change the fact that he left a tremendous impact on the world. Being much older than Sally Hemings, Jefferson felt as though he had complete control over her, which was furthered by the fact that she was a slave. However, their relationship was complicated because Sally did not seem to mind that Jefferson was much older. She persuaded him to free her children at age 21, and often made decisions about their relationship. Perhaps this stems from the age gap from her perspective, in which she knew she could sway Jefferson’s mind because she was young and he adored her. Meacham’s thorough depiction of Jefferson’s life gives a much more well-rounded explanation of him as both a public servant and human being, contrary to historical records, which strive to preserve a pristine persona. Historical bias, although in some cases necessary for teaching purposes, does not improve