This course provides an overview of Thomas Jefferson's work and perspectives presented by the University of Virginia in partnership with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Together, UVA and Monticello are recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Age of Jefferson
proposé par
University of Virginia
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
Semaine
1Thomas Jefferson, American Icon
Thomas Jefferson is an American icon. He has also been one of the most polarizing and controversial figures in American history. In this introductory module, we’ll explore how Jefferson’s reputation has changed and evolved over the last two centuries. We’ll discover what Jefferson considered to be his most important contribution to the “Age of Enlightenment” in which he was living. We’ll discuss why some people in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have viewed Jefferson and his ideas with skepticism or worse while others have embraced Jefferson. Overall, learning about how people from many different backgrounds and perspectives have interpreted Jefferson throughout history will help us understand why it’s so important to think critically and honestly about Jefferson’s life and legacy today.
6 videos (Total 53 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
6 vidéos
Tour of Rotunda2 min
Thomas Jefferson, American Icon Preface3 min
Jefferson’s Great Contribution8 min
Doubting Thomas: Negative Responses to Jefferson and his Ideas8 min
Jefferson’s Reputation from the Civil War to the Cold War18 min
Interpreting Jefferson Today10 min
1 lecture
Thomas Jefferson, American Icon Readings10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Thomas Jefferson, American Icon10 min
Semaine
2Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence
No document is more closely associated with Jefferson than the Declaration of Independence. Listing it as the first of three achievements on his tombstone, Jefferson clearly believed the Declaration to be of profound importance. Generations of Americans have agreed, constantly quoting its phrases and invoking its ideas. But do we really understand what Jefferson was trying to do when he wrote the Declaration? In this module, we’ll explore the Revolutionary context in which Jefferson lived and worked. We’ll ask why the Declaration takes the form that it does, and also what Jefferson hoped it would accomplish. Surprisingly, the parts of the Declaration that we celebrate most frequently today may not be the ones Jefferson would have understood to be the most important.
5 videos (Total 61 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
5 vidéos
Declaration of Independence Preface3 min
The Declaration and American History7 min
Reluctant Revolutionaries: The Context for Writing the Declaration19 min
Creating an American People25 min
1 lecture
Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence Readings10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence10 min
Semaine
3Jefferson and Slavery
The man who wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” was a lifelong slaveowner whose affluence rested on the exploitation of hundreds of African Americans. In this module, we travel to Montalto, the mountain overlooking Jefferson’s home and plantation on Monticello, to try to gain some perspective on this great tension in Jefferson’s life and thought. Our goal will be neither simply to exonerate nor to castigate Jefferson, but rather to understand how he viewed slavery and his relationship to it. Only by confronting and considering this complicated, frustrating, and tragic chapter in American history can we come to a more complete and nuanced understanding of Thomas Jefferson and his legacy. As students attending the University Jefferson founded, it is especially important to engage this topic.
5 videos (Total 54 min), 2 lectures, 1 quiz
5 vidéos
Slavery Preface2 min
A Captive Nation: Slavery as War22 min
“The most blessed of patriarchs”: Slavery in Peace9 min
The Future of Slavery13 min
2 lectures
Jefferson and Slavery Readings10 min
Discover the Resources of Monticello10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Jefferson and Slavery10 min
Semaine
4Jefferson and Religion
The role of religion in public life continues to be a topic of debate today in both the United States and around the world. Thomas Jefferson was never happier than when his Bill for Religious Freedom was finally enacted in Virginia in 1786. In this module, we’ll try to understand why Jefferson believed freedom of religion to be so essential to the future of the United States. To do this, we’ll explore the historical context in which Jefferson developed his ideas about the proper relationship between religious denominations and the state. We’ll also investigate Jefferson’s own faith—a subject of much controversy from his own day through the present. Considering Jefferson’s serious engagement with questions of religion will help us understand the kinds of communities and society he hoped would take hold and flourish in the new nation.
6 videos (Total 61 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
6 vidéos
Religion Preface3 min
A Chapel at the University of Virginia6 min
A Chapel at Mr. Jefferson’s University10 min
The Situation in Old Regime Virginia13 min
Sustaining the Revolution10 min
Jefferson’s Faith16 min
1 lecture
Jefferson and Religion Readings10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Jefferson and Religion10 min
4.6
83 avis50%
a commencé une nouvelle carrière après avoir terminé ces cours
83%
a bénéficié d'un avantage concret dans sa carrière grâce à ce cours
Meilleurs avis
par HM•Jul 25th 2016
Fantastic course by Dr. Onuf! I learned much and he helped correct misconceptions I harbored regarding Thomas Jefferson. Great videos and selected readings. The quizzes were relatively challenging.
par PL•Oct 13th 2017
Great lessons in the history of UVA and its architect/founder Thomas Jefferson. The professor was clearly excited about the subject matter and conveyed the history with enthusiasm and vigor.
Enseignant
Professor Peter S. Onuf
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor, EmeritusCorcoran Department of History
À propos de University of Virginia
A premier institution of higher education, The University of Virginia offers outstanding academics, world-class faculty, and an inspiring, supportive environment. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University is guided by his vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of students from all walks of life. Through these courses, global learners have an opportunity to study with renowned scholars and thought leaders.
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