America's First Daughter, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

 

Jefferson’s	Randolph’s	Others
Thomas Jefferson Martha – wife, deceased Martha “Patsy” Polly Lucy – deceased   Patsy and Tom Randolph Ann Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Ellen Cornelia Virginia “Ginny” James Madison – first baby born in President’s House Benjamin Franklin Septimia   Jack Eppes – married Polly   Sally Hemings – father is Martha’s father Betty – mother Nance, Critta – same father Jimmy “James” – chef   Sally’s sons, promised freedom at age 21: Beverly, Johnny, Madison, Eston Harriet – only surviving daughter	Colonel Randolph- Jefferson’s cousin Tom – oldest son, married Patsy Judith Nancy   Gabriella Harvie – second wife   Richard Randolph – Bizarre Plantation – accused of murdering Nancy’s baby Judith (Tom’s sister) – wife Theo and John – two brothers   Congressman Randolph of Roanoke – Richard’s brother	William Short – Jefferson’s secretary   John Adams Abagail   John Madison Dolley   Marquis de Lafayette   Marie Cosway – possible affair with Thomas Jefferson

 

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2016 paperback edition.

1.       Was it fair to place such high expectations on Patsy?  Her mother made her promise to always take care of her father when she died.  Also, in a letter from her father in 1783, he wrote “The acquirements I hope you’ll make under the tutors I’ve provided will render you more worthy of my love…no distress this world can now bring on me could equal that of your disappointing my hopes” (pages 60 and 61).

2.       Do you think Martha would have encouraged Jefferson to remarry if she had known that Jefferson would have a romance with Marie Cosway and father children with Sally Hemings?

3.       Did you gain any insights into our country’s history regarding slavery?

4.       Did William Short provide an effective counterbalance to Jefferson’s thoughts on slavery?  He told Patsy he could not live in Virginia because of slavery and suggested to Jefferson that the mixing of races “is our surest path to doing away with racial prejudice” (page 369).

5.       Both Jimmy and Sally returned to Virginia after living as free people in France.  Jefferson promised to free Jimmy after he taught someone to cook for him and to care for Sally and free her children when they turned 21.  Could you understand their motivations?

6.       When Beverly turned 21, Sally chose to keep him a slave and near her rather than send him away.   Did you understand her choice?

7.       Patsy made many sacrifices for Jefferson – William told her she could be his wife and mother to their children or Jefferson’s devoted daughter, but not both (page 214).  Did Jefferson make any sacrifices in return?

8.       Were you surprised when Patsy lied in court to project Nancy’s reputation when Richard Randolph was accused of murdering the baby she had with him?  Her rationale was that “For my husband’s sake, I’d saved her [Nancy’s] life” and that “only a small part of the world would be influenced by the decision of the court” (page 301).

9.       In the novel, many events were influenced by the women behind the scenes. How effective would these strategies be today?  For example:

a.       When England enacted the Embargo Act of 1807, Patsy realized that the country’s fate was in the hands of the women who would make most of the sacrifices. 

b.       Likewise, when Tom was running for office against John Randolph (Richard’s brother), Patsy and Dolley wrote letters to influential ladies, tarnishing John’s reputation.

c.       Patsy was successful as Jefferson’s hostess in Washington.  She befriended the wives of the newspapermen and singled out the most belligerent men and kept them engaged in conversation. She told Dolley Madison she was able to be aware of troublemakers before they could start anything because she listened “to what they do not say” (page 387).

10.   Many of the men had negative characteristics described in the book.  Do you think this was common for those times or just the way those people were?

a.       Thomas Jefferson – intimate with Sally Hemings

b.       Colonel Randolph – mean and uncaring to children

c.       Tom Randolph – not good at managing plantation or business, hit his son, Jeff, and Patsy.

d.       Richard Randolph – had baby with wife’s sister and then killed the baby

e.       Jack Epps – not considerate of Polly or her health, kept her away from her family

11.   Was Patsy to blame for many of Tom’s troubles?  Do you think he  would have the same fate if he had married a woman from a regular family instead of Thomas Jefferson’s daughter?

12.   Did this book change how you viewed Thomas Jefferson or Sally Hemings?

13.   Would this book be banned in today’s schools?  If so, why?