The book is the first publication in Russian of the works of the outstanding American thinker, revolutionary democrat, one of the “Founding Fathers” and third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). This publication fills a significant gap in our knowledge about the activities and personality of the author of the famous Declaration of Independence, a man who clearly expressed his views on freedom of thought: “I have sworn on the altar of God to be the eternal enemy of every form of tyranny over the mind of man!” The “Autobiography” of T. Jefferson, unfortunately not completed by him, gives us important material for understanding the political philosophy of its author, the motives of his activities in the formative years of the United States, and includes the full text of the Declaration of Independence. In “Notes on the State of Virginia,” T. Jefferson appears more as a natural scientist and historian, a multi-talented thinker of the Enlightenment. For anyone interested in the problems of building a rule of law state and the political mechanisms of democracy, there will be good material for understanding the chapters of the Notes devoted to the political structure of the state, trial by jury, social problems, as well as the draft Constitution of Virginia and the Religious Freedom Act, placed by T. Jefferson in Applications. CONTENTS: Thomas Jefferson is a great thinker and revolutionary democrat. L.L. Fursenko (5). Autobiography (19). Notes on the state of Virginia (99). Question I. Borders of Virginia (102). Question II. Rivers (103).Question III. Seaports (112).Question IV. Mountains (112).Question V. Waterfalls (115).Question VI. Minerals, flora and fauna (119). Question VII. Climate (161).Question VIII. Population (168). Question IX. Armed forces (174). Question X. Naval forces (175). Question XI. Aborigines (176).Question XII. Counties and Cities (188).Question XIII. Constitution (189). Question XIV. Laws (205).Question XV. Colleges, buildings and roads (221).Question XVI. Legal practice in relation to Tories (224). Question XVII. Religion (226).Question XVIII. Customs and morals (230). Question XIX. Manufactures (231).Question XX. Trade items (233).Question XXI. Weights, linear measures and money (235). Question XXII. State budget revenues and expenses (239). Question XXIII. History, Chronicles and State Documents (243).Appendix 1. Commentaries of Charles Thomson (255).Appendix 2. Draft Fundamental Constitution of the Republic of Virginia (263).Appendix 3. Religious Freedom Establishment Act (273).Notes (275).Index names (309).