It was then contended, by France's Count Buffon, that all flora, fauna, and men of the New World were degenerate. ... In Notes, perhaps Jefferson's greatest scientific work, he listed the tribes with a fullness and precision that were uncommon of his era. ... His lifetime interest in Native Americans can also be seen in his long-term effort to collect and catalogue Indian vocabularies. ... But, the office, also, gave him new resources. On July 4, 1801, his first year as president, Jefferson held a reception for five Cherokee chiefs where he queried them for his vocabularies study. ...

• Word Count: 2097
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School