Book · 1784 · Description and travel
Notes on the state of Virginia
- mentions
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- people
- 4
- podcasts
- 4
- episodes
- 6
- critical mentions
- 0
Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his Notes on the State of Virginia. It's very, very complicated, but we're always looking for a way to say that some people are more equal than others.
What they say about it
- Only published book“his only published book”2
The best things said about it
So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had written at length his belief that black people were not mentally capable of being free.
And Jefferson, in Notes on the State of Virginia, which is again him trying to defend the United States to France, writes about how these are one of the worst parts of this really cruel, hideous system.
Malone goes on to quote another line from Notes on the State of Virginia, which he describes as perhaps the most erudite summary of the evil of slavery.
The work he did on the run would later make up his only published book, Notes on the State of Virginia.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson is the only book published by the Founding Father during his lifetime, originally written as an extensive defense and description of America for a French audience that encompasses geographic, social, and political observations. Ken Burns mentioned the work on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, noting that Jefferson grappled with complex and troubling ideas regarding human equality within its pages. Pamela Paul discussed the selection of the book on The Book Review during a historical examination of race and racism in America. Robert Evans explored the volume extensively across multiple episodes of Behind the Bastards, using it to unpack the profound contradictions of Jefferson's legacy. Evans detailed how Jefferson argued in the text that Black people lacked the mental capability for freedom, serving his efforts to justify America to foreign observers while simultaneously exposing the cruel realities of the slavery system he participated in. Furthermore, Evans noted that the book contains some of Jefferson's most erudite warnings about how slavery threatened the liberties of a nation, even as the author's personal actions starkly contradicted his written ideals. Through these critical historical analyses, podcast hosts highlighted how Jefferson's single published volume remains a vital primary source for confronting the profound hypocrisies embedded at the foundation of the United States.
Every mention
Robert Evans So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had writt… 7
“So back during his years in France, when he had written Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson had written at length his belief that black people were not mentally capable of being free.”
“But a few years earlier, right after he'd finished Notes on the State of Virginia, he sold one of the women he owned to a white man with the understanding that she would be freed by him and they would live as husband and wife.”
“And Jefferson, in Notes on the State of Virginia, which is again him trying to defend the United States to France, writes about how these are one of the worst parts of this really cruel, hideous system.”
“No, at all. Yeah. Malone goes on to quote another line from Notes on the State of Virginia, which he describes as perhaps the most erudite summary of the evil of slavery: And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these”
“the work he did on the Run would later make up his only published book notes on the state of Virginia”
“Jefferson headed out in a place called Poles Forest and did what he was good at, he wrote; the work he did on the run would later make up his only published book, Notes on the State of Virginia. And if you are a poli-sci student, you just shuddered a little bit; you had to read this son of a”
“notes on the state of Virginia was published in 1785 and then republished several times”
Clay Jenkinson and then he in 1774 he wrote a pamphlet which was published without his permission called a summary View an… 1
“and then he in 1774 he wrote a pamphlet which was published without his permission called a summary View and everyone in all the colonies thought this is a young man to reckon with”
Ken Burns Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his notes on the state of Virginia. It's very very complicated, but we… 1
“Thomas Jefferson did a little bit in his notes on the state of Virginia. It's very very complicated, but we're always looking for a way to say that some people are more equal than others.”
Pamela Paul and for the next decade you take a very different tack with Thomas Jefferson's notes on the state of Virgin… 1
“and for the next decade you take a very different tack with Thomas Jefferson's notes on the state of Virginia but you also cite another book which I found fascinating”
