During this lesson, students will think critically about the way in which Thomas Jefferson’s legacy is described and defined by historians and political commentators throughout Ken Burns’ Thomas Jefferson. The clips are designed to challenge students to analyze historical interpretations of Jefferson’s political and personal life. Students will question historians’ perspectives and come up with their own interpretation of who Jefferson was through discussion questions.

Throughout the lesson, students will receive background on the documentary and will answer key questions that will foster critical thinking about the way in which Thomas Jefferson is portrayed and described by historians in the documentary.