Thomas Jefferson's Legacy Explored 250 Years After Declaration

Why it matters locally: The exploration of Thomas Jefferson's complex legacy, including his role as a slaveholder, directly impacts Monticello, a key historical site and tourist destination in Virginia.

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Journalist Judy Woodruff recently visited Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson, to examine his historical legacy. Her reporting coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a document Jefferson drafted which states that "all men are created equal." Woodruff's visit to Monticello explores the life of the third U.S. president. Her reporting investigates the complexities of Jefferson's life, noting his role as an author of foundational American principles while simultaneously maintaining hundreds of thousands of enslaved people. This exploration forms part of her series, "Crossroads: America at 250." The series examines how Jefferson's personal contradictions mirrored those present within the early United States.