Essay Thomas Jefferson and Slavery - 994 Words

Thomas Jefferson is a man who really needs no introduction. He was recognized as a luminous writer who was appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. Congress formally approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Jefferson owned many slaves that worked for him. He would often even sell his slaves to buy others. Why then would he write in the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"all men are created equal†? Is it possible that Thomas Jefferson was a hypocrite and only wrote what the population wanted to see? Did Thomas Jefferson enjoy owning slaves just as his other wealthy peers did? Neither one of those is true. Thomas Jefferson thought slavery was morally wrong and he thought that it should be abolished. We will take a†¦show more content†¦At times, in order to pay some of his debt, Jefferson would have to part with his slaves. Thomas Jefferson was a big advocate for family unity. He would never sell individual slaves if it meant breaking a family apart. He would sell some slaves to purchase others as a â€Å"family† or one team. Thomas Jefferson was between a rock and a hard place, he needed the slaves to keep his head afloat. He would never mistreat his slaves, for he truly thought that all men were indeed created equal. Thomas Jefferson tried many things to assist slaves that belonged to him. He felt that Americans should not only emancipate them but also educate and train them to be self-sufficient, provide them with necessary materials, and establish a colony in which they could live as free and independent people. (Wilson, 1992) Thomas Jefferson would spend much of his free time ensuring that his slaves received an education. He felt they were as smart as the â€Å"white† man and would be able to succeed just as white man did. Slaves that belonged to Jefferson had many traits that would benefit them in the â€Å"free† world. There were carpenters, gardeners, plumbers, and electricians. He would always place them in a job that would enhance their skills so they would not lose touch of their blessings passed down to them. Jefferson would always treat his slaves with respect. Jeffersons compassion for his slaves sharply limited his income as he felt they should be treated decently.In one of Thomas Jefferson’sShow MoreRelatedThomas Jefferson and Slavery1131 Words   |  5 PagesThomas Jefferson and Slavery Of slavery, the third President of the United States and co-writer of the Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution of the United States wrote: But, as it is, we have the wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other. This quote illustrates the role that slavery played in the western world at the end of the eighteenth century. In The Declaration of Independence, JeffersonRead MoreThomas Jefferson and Slavery in Virginia1035 Words   |  5 PagesThomas Jefferson and Slavery in Virginia At the bottom it was slavery that divided Virginia along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most members of the convention have agreed with the opinion of the distinguishing delegate, James Monroe, that â€Å"if no such thing as slavery existed.. the people of our Atlantic border, would meet their brethren of the west, upon the basis of a majority, of the free white population.† But slavery existed, largely as an eastern institution; and it demanded protection from mereRead MoreEssay On Slavery Vs Thomas Jefferson769 Words   |  4 Pagescommonly believe that Thomas Jefferson is a hypocrite, due to one of his most famous quotes is â€Å"all men are created equal†, he owned slaves and never released them. The topic over slavery and Thomas Jefferson is extremely controversial today in America. 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Thomas Jefferson was a United States Secretary of State and the former of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote words that have left a lasting impact in the Americas. Jefferson however did not follow by those words. In Bannekers letter to Thomas Jefferson