Thomas Jefferson was a man of the greatest moral character who has been excoriated routinely over the last 30 years by historical revisionists and presentists. His commitment to America and his vast contributions to the framing of society as it is today are overlooked in favor of base analysis of his character that, while not flawless, is that of a morally upright person who has deeply held convictions and lives by them.

Jefferson was born to a prominent family of Virginia tobacco growers. Plantation life is based largely around the work of slaves, so Jefferson was surrounded by them from the time of his birth in 1743 until the day he died. One of the harshest criticisms of Jefferson comes from the fact that, while he vehemently opposed slavery, was indeed a slave owner himself. As historian Douglas L. Wilson points out in his Atlantic Monthly article "Thomas Jefferson and the Character Issue", the question should be reversed:

"...[T]his was of asking the question... is essentially backward, and reflects the pervasive presentism of our time. Consider, for exampl

Another thing that Jefferson's character is criticized for and blown out of proportion is his liaison with a slave, Sally Hemings. Historian Fawn Brodie argues that it was "not scandalous debauchery with an innocent slave victim, but rather a serious passion that brought Jefferson and the slave woman much happiness over a period lasting thirty-eight years." True, their affair started when she was only 14 years old, but to criticize this is terribly presentistic. In colonial times, especially in the middle and southern colonies, girls were married off between the ages of 13 and 16; it was not considered defilement and abuse like it is today. In fact, his relationship with Hemings could actually be considered to be a positive thing for him on two fronts: Since she was 52 when he died, Jefferson obviously did not lust after her solely on a physical basis; also, he promised his wife when she died that he would not remarry. He fulfilled his promise only because he found a woman to love whom he was not expected, indeed not allowed, to marry. This is a weak front on which to criticize Jefferson.

Wilson also argues that Jef

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