Jefferson and Civil Liberties: The Darker Side

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History, historian Leonard W. Levy's 'Jefferson and Civil Liberties: The Darker Side' shatters the very common view of Thomas Jefferson as a mighty pillar standing for liberty and justice. In its place we're left with a very human Thomas Jefferson who, to quote John Adams, had a “deep duplicity,” and a “double dealing character.”

In this well-researched look into the formative years of the United States Levy cites many primary sources in his quest to uncover the truth about Jefferson. He expertly explains the events that surrounded Jefferson's suspending of the rights to a speedy trial and trial by jury and instituting indefinite detention for an undetermined amount of time (sadly, this is not new with current President Barack Obama and the NDAA of 2012); Jefferson's abridgment of the freedom of speech; and utilizing the military in domestic matters, among other blatant violations of the Constitution.

At the end of his book Levy seeks to peel back the layers of the author of some of the most eloquent writings on the subject of liberty to ever be written, and attempts to explain why Jefferson acted as he did in those many instances.

Levy's book is a sober and highly educational look at one of the most well-known and revered men in history, and one of the architects of this nation, and reveals his “dark” side for all to see. Highly recommended. ( )

Required reading for all those who gush about the wonderful civil libertarian that Jefferson was. Here are detailed the many ways in which Jefferson not only went contrary to the standards of our time (e.g slavery) but also went against his own writings and speech regarding civil liberties. One good is example is his attempt to undermine the Constitution to prosecute trumped up charges against his political rival Aaron Burr. Justice Marshall saw right through that one. ( )