Mr. Jefferson's Lost Cause by Roger G. Kennedy

Jefferson in his earlier years spoke against slavery. He favored an America of yeomen farmers. But as a Virginia plantation owner and politician he favored the Southern view. Tobacco and cotton crops ruin the land if planted continually. But it was cheaper just to move west than to take care of the land.  Slavery was essential to the plantations but slaves were not going to take care of the land the way yeoman farmers would. With the Louisiana purchase much Western land became available. James Monroe, negotiating the purchase, made sure that the current people could keep there customs, meaning slavery. Also there was no reluctance to removing Native Americans from the land.

Had Jefferson been more courageous maybe the tragedy of the civil war could have been avoided.