History 111

Fall 2019

Jefferson-Hemings resources

Jefferson-Hemings resources

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A screen shot of a video claiming Jefferson is "innocent" of having a relationship with Sally Hemings.
A screen shot of a video claiming Jefferson is “innocent” of having a relationship with Sally Hemings.

Activity #1: Look at the evidence and its interpretation by scientists and historians.

Group 1

  1. Read Jefferson fathered slave’s last child: the DNA study published in Nature.
  2. Draw (on a whiteboard) a chart explaining the family tree and the findings. (Yes, we know this isn’t easy. Do your best.)
  3. Do you as a group find the DNA study convincing? Why or why not?
  4. Which is more persuasive to you—the kinds of historical and cultural evidence presented by Walker and other historians, or the scientific evidence? Why?
  5. What does Walker’s book have to say about the persuasiveness of the DNA evidence?

Group 2

  1. Read the Report of the Research Committee – focus on sections III, IV, and V.
  2. Summarize the findings in bullets on a whiteboard.
  3. Do you find the Research Committee’s findings persuasive? Why or why not?
  4. Which is more persuasive to you—the kinds of historical and cultural evidence presented by Walker and other historians, or the scientific evidence? Why?
  5. In what ways does this report align with Walker’s arguments in his book?

Group 3

  1. Read Minority Report on the DNA findings.
  2. Summarize the findings in bullets on a whiteboard.
  3. Do you find the Minority Report’s findings persuasive?
  4. Which is more persuasive to you—the kinds of historical and cultural evidence presented by Walker and other historians, or the scientific evidence? Why?
  5. Clarence Walker refutes the counter-arguments presented by historians in the Minority Report and elsewhere. What kinds of evidence does he use in his rebuttals? Is his persuasive?

Activity #2: Large-group discussion of the various sources

  • What surprised you?
  • If you are undecided, what additional information would you need to come to a conclusion?
  • What kinds of sources would change your mind to come to a different conclusion?
  • Did looking at these other sources change your perception of Walker’s book? If so, why and how? If not, why not?

Activity #3: Reflection (if time permits)

  1. What did you learn today about how historians think and do their work?
  2. What do you still want to learn? Where would you look to find that information?