A note on capitalization

Introduction

Part I: Colonial Virginia, 1743-1770

Part II: Revolutionary America, 1771-1784

Part III: Paris, 1784-1790

Part IV: Philadelphia and New York City, 1790-1801

Part V: Washington, DC, 1801-1809

Part VI: Monticello, 1809-1826

Postscript

Acknowledgments

List of abbreviations in notes

Notes

Bibliographical essay

Index

Part I: Colonial Virginia, 1743-1770. "A hard student" ; Young legislator

Part II: Revolutionary America, 1771-1784. "Inspire us with firmness" ; "These are our grievances" ; "Pen of the American Revolution" ; Revolutionary lawmaker ; The fight for independence ; A Congress "little numerous, but very contentious"

Part III: Paris, 1784-1790. "On the vaunted scene of Europe" ; At home in Paris ; Tourist ; "A powerful obstacle ... to emancipation" ; "Liberty is to be gained by inches"

Part IV: Philadelphia and New York City, 1790-1801. From Paris to New York ; Jefferson versus Hamilton ; The specter of the French Revolution ; "Totally absorbed in my rural occupations" ; The vice presidency ; "Reign of witches" ; An attempt to "strangle the election"

Part V: Washington, DC, 1801-1809. Political faith and presidential style ; "We are acting for all mankind" ; "Louisiana for a song" ; "Steadily in her course" ; The collapse of political consensus ; "War, embargo, or nothing"

Part VI: Monticello, 1809-1826. "Returning to the scenes of my birth and early life" ; "We ought not to die before we have explained ourselves" ; Living with paradox ; One last crusade ; The Sage of Monticello