Penny,

I also honor Jefferson as a "great man" and founding father, but I doubt I would have liked the guy. I'm more a John & Abigail Adams admirer, on a personal level. As far as viewing people as equals, I'm not sure except legally, Jefferson thought anyone his equal, except a handful of fellow Virginians.

Penny, my interest in the Revolutionary War and American Independence is just behind my interest in the Civil War. I don't believe you can fully understand the origins and causes of the Civil War without understanding America at its founding. Do you agree?

Jim