Meet Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, as you probably know, was the Third President of the United States, the Author of the Declaration of Independence, the man who championed public education, separation of church and state and the notion, for the most part, that all men are created equal.  His personal library was the foundation of the Library of Congress and his words were the cornerstone of our fight for independence from Great Britain. 

183 years after his death, our founding ideals are being sorely tested in many ways he could not begin to imagine.  So it is only proper to delve into the man, his times and how they affect our present day lives.  His insights may be able to enlighten our opinions of his world, and of the founding Fathers, and how those values may or may not affect ours.  

Be prepared! He may not be who you think he was!

Mr. Phil Lauricella portrays the famous author of the Declaration of Independence, and Third President of the United States.  Compare the 18th and the 21st centuries. Learn about the writing of the Declaration, The University of Virginia, The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Monticello, the Louisiana Purchase and much more.

Mr. Lauricella presents the “living” Thomas Jefferson, a champion of the Enlightenment.  The programs are designed to interact with all audiences and age groups.  They are divided into programs geared for school grades 4-9, High Schools, Libraries & Adult groups of any composition.   It can be presented as a lecture or in a question and answer, press conference style setting.

 The program is variable in length ranging from 45 minutes to over 2 hours.  Not only do we examine the society of his time, but delve into the man himself: who he was and why he believed as he did.  This program brings him to life in such a way that the man emerges from the myth.   

Hear Mr. Jefferson's views about:

?  The New Constitution

?  The Lewis Expedition

?  The Bill of Rights 

?  Personal Liberties

?  Slavery 

?  His "Trinity of Heroes",   Religious Freedom,

And much, much more…

The purpose here is to explore such questions as

 What sort of man was Thomas Jefferson?

 How did he see the world?

 What were his principal accomplishments?

What do we make of his life and work today?

Thomas Jefferson: Man of Paradox

 He was a liberty loving Slaveholder.

 He  was an Indian loving relocationist.

 He was a strict constitutionalist who made the Louisiana Purchase.

 He championed the freedom of the press, but suppressed it in his presidency.

 He was an advocate of public frugality, yet died bankrupt.

 He was disdainful of the past, yet his favorite authors were Homer and Virgil.

 He declared that no generation had the right to bind another with laws and debt, but warned his fellow Virginians not to meddle with the Freedoms established in the Bill of Rights.

 Envisioned a Republic bordering on a Democracy and advocating the sovereignty and equality of the people, but did not trust the people to elect the President without the Electoral College.

 Discover the meanings behind these and other inconsistencies…. 

For More information 

Mr. Phil Lauricella

PO Box 623, Elburn Illinois, 60119

630-377-0698

Email: Thomasjefferson@skitrooper.org

Or our website at:

http://www.ushistoryrocks.org/