Peer Review

Jefferson's Blood

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Aug 27, 2002 by History

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Jefferson's Blood explores the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his
slave Sally Hemings, their descendants, and the mysterious power of race. The
sie offers sections concerning the historical debate about whether or not
Jefferson had a slave mistress and brings the use and role of DNA into a
contemporary historical context. The web site offers a teacher's guide,
videotapes and transcripts, a chronology of Jefferson's Life, and the positions
of prominent historians on whether or not Jefferson and Sally Hemings were
lovers.
Type of Material:: Case Study within the format of a lecture/presentation with video.
Recommended Uses:: Jefferson's Blood offers the opportunity to encourage student debate about
racial attitudes in the 18th and 19th century United States, provides
opportunities for students to distinguish between primary and secondary sources,
and instructs students in the use of modern scientific technology to unravel
historical questionmarks.
Technical Requirements:: Video plugins needed.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: To demonstrate an understanding of the chronology of events in Jefferson's
private and personal life within the social and political context of the time
period.
To discuss the influences on Jefferson's personal and political development and
the contradictions and complexities of this thoughts on racism as a philosopher
and a politician through the examination of primary and secondary documents.
To describe the characteristics of early American presidents and evaluate the
criteria expected during the early stages of the American government to
contemporary expectations.
To explore the personal aspects of historical inquiry and diversity by
discusing, documenting, and sharing aspects of individual heritage and to use
the internet to showcase student material.
To explore and discuss the political concept of historical restitution as it
relates to the Hemings-Jefferson saga.
To discuss the methods and role of DNA testing in historical reconstruction.
To demonstrate an understanding of the role of primary sources in historical
inquiry: slave narratives, autobiographies, diaries, legal documents, speeches,
oral history, artifacts, and artwork.
Target Student Population:: AP United States History (High School)
United States History, African-American History, Social and Cultural History
(College)
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic computer skills and familiarity with Internet browser commands to navigate
through the site.
A fundamental understanding of early American History: students should be
familiar with Thomas Jefferson's personal and political life, possess an
understanding of basic concepts inherent in discussing the social and political
aspects a plantation economy and slavery.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Jefferson's Blood is a well written site incorporating links to primary sources
from oral history, slave narratives, Jefferson's writings, interviews, and
diaries. The site explores the perception and identity of race from the time of
Jefferson to the present day. The Teacher's Guide provides the website with a
resource for viewing the documentary videotape within the classroom or by
individual students. The site incorporates student projects associated with the
Jefferson-Hemings debate. Lesson plans and activities clearly define learning
objectives.
Concerns:: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The Teacher's Guide was created by a group of individuals ranging from the
fields of online teaching, high school social studies, college professors, media
consultants, and historians for PBS. Activities in the Teacher's Guide are
available from the website and are an excellent supplemental resource for
teaching United States, Social, African-American, and Cultural History. Site
activities are appropriate for both high school and college courses.
Concerns:: The Teacher's Guide does not clearly define the requisite knowledge or the
target audience for learning activities.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This well developed site effectively combines a variety of multi-media into its
design: streaming video, audio, virtual galleries, etc. Download time for many
of the graphics and video depend on the connection speed. Video Clips require
plugins.
Concerns:: Download time is slow.

Other Issues and Comments:: The site could be improved by providing a website map for easier navigation and
to better communicate the location and volume of informatioin provided on the
site. The incorporation of the video clips form the documentary, the use of
primary sources and html links to additional material, and the use of numerous
graphics to illustrate artwork and artifacts from the time period discussed are
great assests. The "Mixed Race in America" segment illustrates the contemporary
relevance of history as it explores the history of mixed-race in the United
States.
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