Notes on the State of Virginia
Any study of the United States should include Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia. Not only does he meticulously gather information, categorize and document the natural resources, but also discusses Virginia's constitution and laws, which he uses as a microcosm for the United States' government. Jefferson's celebration of the national bureaucracy is not without the various problems that existed in the United States during his lifetime. The most problematic issues were the institution of slavery and the extermination of America's indigenous people. Jefferson attempts to come to terms with both issues, but ultimately is unsure how to handle them. He is arguably one of the most important men in American history, and to appreciate Thomas Jefferson, the man, one must understand the fruits of his labor: The United States of America. In short, it is impossible to completely comprehend the atmosphere of the colonial era without touching upon the words and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson.In his contemplation of what the United States truly represents, Jefferson takes time to validate America's break from England. He is writing to a European audience and, being the statesman and politi
What was most intriguing and kept resurfacing throughout various sections of the book was the theme of Native Americans and Africans Americans. He mentions that they are not entirely chaotic, but have a certain tribal law that comes from a "natural" understanding of what is right and wrong. Between these could be no hesitation. The prejudice taught to future generations made the abolition of slavery within American society difficult to establish. Jefferson proclaimed, "An inhuman practice once prevailed in this country of making slaves of the Indians. To ease European criticism, Jefferson dispelled the notion that the United States enslaved its indigenous people. (117)European perception of the colonies was important to Jefferson because he knew the fledgling nation would need allies to break free of Britain's tyranny. Now that we have entered the new millennium, and the concepts of cultural and ethnic identity are so prevalent in American society, it is sad to observe, through the reading of Jefferson's work, that these issues are still not resolved despite the supposed wisdom of hindsight. Jefferson acknowledged that,Any offense against these is punished by contempt, by exclusion from society, or, where the case is serious, as that of murder, by the individuals whom it concerns. Bibliography Jefferson, Thomas. He simply states, "the Indian of North America being more within our reach, I can speak of him somewhat from my own knowledge, but more from the information of others better acquainted with him, and on whose truth and judgement I can rely" (59). Jefferson did the utmost research in order to validate the events and the speech. A clear indication of this was his willingness to incorporate many of the concepts found in the tribal government of the Iroquois into the overall scheme of America's democratic system. (162)He recognized in order for every American to be free of this racial burden attitudes and perceptions had to be undone and relearned. Jefferson may have not intentionally helped to perpetuate the myth of the noble savage, but it seems more likely he attempted to raise the level of Native Americans from mindless wilderness savages to men.
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