Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite? That is the question facing class members as they examine excerpts from documents that relate to Jefferson's beliefs about slaves and slavery.

Additional Tags

unalienable rights, social studies

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Classroom Considerations

• The document-based essay activity prepares learners for the AP DBQ exams
• The number of documents required for the essay can be changed based on the experience and skill level of the class
• Although not considered in the documents attached to the lesson, be prepared to respond to questions about the Jefferson-Hemings controversy

Pros

• The documents reveal Jefferson's growing awareness of the complexity of the moral and ethical issues involved
• The instructor annotates the first document as a model for class members

Cons

• Some class members may need additional support selecting documents and identifying key passages to use in their essay

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.4 RH.6-8.5 RH.6-8.6 RH.6-8.8 RH.6-8.10