Thomas Jefferson was the third American president. His term lasted from 1801 to 1809. Born in 1743, he grew up in Virginia at a period when slavery had existed for almost 75 years. Jefferson grew up in a plantation in Virginia with enslaved workers. As an adult, he owned slaves. Although he owned slaves, Jefferson opposed slavery. His views on slavery remain contradicted since at one point he considered blacks inferior to other races while at the same time calling for an end to slavery. Historians have always debated on the contradictions between his words and actions relating to the issue of slavery. In his life, Jefferson appears to have contradicted his writing, views, deeds and thoughts on the issue of slavery (Bernstein 56).
Jefferson as an opponent against slavery
As a young legislator and president, Jefferson took actions that he thought would aid in ending slavery. As a young legislator in Virginia, he had tried to advocate the private land owners to free their slaves. This was, however, unsuccessful as private land owners viewed this as a way towards economic downfall. They used slaves as cheap labor in their plantations and thus, if they had supported Jefferson in his advocacy for slavery end, they would have suffered economically. Although he failed in his advocacy for slavery abolishment by private land owners, Jefferson later returned to draft a bill barring freed blacks from staying in Virginia. He drafted a Virginia law prohibiting the importation of enslaved blacks into the state (Zinn 120). He was successful in the passage of this bill. Nevertheless, it is viewed that the private land owners in his state passed the bill to raise the price of slaves who were already their captives. In 1784, Jefferson forwarded a proposal to ban slavery in the newly created territories of the northwest. As the principal author of the land ordinance of 1784, he called for an end to slavery and involuntary servitude in these territories. Jefferson wanted a line to be drawn depicting the north and south at which slavery should not be extended westwards of the impassable line. This bill, however, was defeated by a single vote. Jefferson also proposed in the mid 1770s for a means through which those born into slavery could be freed. He referred to this as gradual emancipation by which after a certain date, those who were born into slavery became freed. In his advocacy for gradual emancipation of slaves, Jefferson wanted slaves to be resettled out of the United States, or they be returned to Africa (Spahn 65). He believed that once slaves were freed, the oppression they had suffered under their masters would breed hatred for their masters. He saw to it that the slaves would instigate violence on their former masters. It is in this thought that he believed the best plan would be to resettle slaves out of America. These actions show the efforts by Jefferson, while still a legislator, to end and stop slavery at the time. As president, in 1807, Jefferson signed an act which prohibited importation of slaves. This act helped to outlaw international slave trade in the United States although it took effect almost a year later. Jefferson was also the chief author of the declaration of independence in which he strongly argued against slavery (Zinn 49). Through the declaration of independence, he noted that slavery opposed nature which calls for every human being to be treated and respected equally. He called the institution to be immoral and not just. In his first draft of the declaration, he noted that every man was equal, and slavery did not replicate this but only caused oppression and death to those held captive. These statements represent Jefferson’s stance on slavery which he opposed.
Thomas Jefferson’s views on slavery also became noted through his use of strong words in which he called for an end to the institution. Through his writing and correspondence with political and business associates, his strong words against slavery stood out. His views on slavery became apparent through his writings in which he called slavery as an abominable crime, a hideous blot and a fatal stain that impacted humanity negatively (Jefferson 132). Jefferson’s strong statements on slavery clearly underlined his views on slavery. His views indicated those of an individual who viewed slavery as a crime. Jefferson is remembered for his excellent writing and conversation skills with which he used to condemn the heinous act that was slavery. In the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson strongly condemned Great Britain for its role and sponsorship of slavery. This passage on his views about slavery was deleted from the final document, but it clearly indicated his feelings and views towards slavery. Jefferson noted in the first draft that slavery had deprived slaves of their sacred rights to freedom and liberty. Britain, through its support of the transatlantic slave trade, had caused miserable pain and deaths of slaves, he noted. He claimed that slavery had brought horrors to humanity in his initial draft of the Declaration of Independence. This first draft of the Declaration of Independence ignited serious debate among delegates who had gathered in Philadelphia (Coglian 192). His writings on antislavery indicated the institution to be wrong and evil. He complained to his friends and business associates through writing on the immorality of slavery. Often through his writing, he would condemn them for failing to criticize the act of slavery or practicing free labor in their businesses. He viewed slavery as undemocratic and contradictory to the rule of nature. Jefferson’s views on slavery became influenced by the fact that he was extremely religious. He based his writings on religious foundations, which he believed opposed slavery. He believed that Christianity indicated that all human beings are to be equal and deserve equal opportunity as well as treatment. He also opposed slavery in his notes on Virginia. He noted that the act of slavery was demoralizing to both the captive and master.
Thomas Jefferson also acted by his own will later after his presidency to end slavery. As a slave holder, he freed some of his slaves. In his lifetime as a slave holder, he freed two slaves related to Betty Hemings in the 1790s. Through his will after his death, Jefferson freed two of Sally Heming’s children who still were his captives (Coglian 49). He freed another two slaves: children of Sally Hemings by letting them walk away to their freedom. According to his will, he indicated another three older slaves to be freed. These older slaves had already served him for years. These actions, although somewhat late in coming, indicate that Jefferson became clearly determined to end slavery as an individual. Jefferson never managed to free all of his slaves since he was in massive debt and the sale of his slaves was used to settle his debts. His lifestyle and family problems meant that he would remain tied to owning slaves. The prices of tobacco, which became low, meant that he also required slaves for his economic survival (Zinn 342). At the time, owning slaves meant that plantation and private land owners would receive cheap labor. In his quest to end slavery, Jefferson accorded better treatment to his slaves. He provided better accommodation to his slaves compared to what other slaves were provided with. Historical records reveal that Jefferson maintained records of the cost it took to feed, house and care all his slaves who worked at his plantation. He accorded his slaves paternalistic care since he believed that he was obligated to them, and they were dependent on him for their survival. Jefferson believed slaves were unable to take care of themselves, and they required paternal care. Jefferson was compassionate towards his slaves, which limited his income as he always felt they should be treated decently. This feeling of care, which he showed towards his slaves, indicates Jefferson as opposed to slavery. As an ambassador of the United States to France, Jefferson was accompanied by a few slaves including Sally Hemings and his brother James. Jefferson is reported to have had a longstanding relationship with Sally that bore him six children. His relationship with a slave signifies that he may have been open to equality and viewed slaves to be just like him. Marriage among slaves in the state of Virginia was illegal, but Jefferson encouraged the extension of familial bonds among his slaves (Spahn 101). This meant that many slave families remained intact and never became disoriented. This also shows that Jefferson did mind about the familial obligations slaves needed.
Contradictions regarding Jefferson’s view on slavery
Although Jefferson was against slavery, there are a few contradictions which arose due to the nature of his words and actions. Jefferson’s statements strongly rejected slavery as an institution, but he also is criticized for not doing enough to end slavery as a travesty. Critics argue that Jefferson, as a president, did not take enough political action to stop slavery (Coglian 189). Jefferson barely backed up his words with actions. He openly wrote against slavery but did not act in the same zeal to end slavery in his country and state.
Jefferson held slaves throughout his adult life. It is ironical for him to call for the freeing of slaves, yet he still possessed them. Although he advocated the freedom of slaves, Jefferson never freed all of his slaves (Zinn 186). He continued to own slaves even though he asked his political friends and business peers to free their slaves. Jefferson owned several hundred slaves at his Monticello home in Virginia. This becomes somewhat ironical and contradictory to his strong statements, which were clearly against the institution. His lifestyle, family problems and debts could not allow him to free his slaves who provided him with free labor. His death meant that his remaining slaves were to be sold to clear off his debts. These slaves became transferred to other masters and, in turn, continued to be enslaved. This action by Jefferson as an individual to not undertake any measures and free his own slaves indicates that he somehow was in support of the travesty. Furthermore, Jefferson had a relationship with a slave of his who bore him children. Jefferson never went public about this relationship and it may seem as though he might have been embarrassed about it. His handling of this relationship may indicate his distaste for slaves that he was not proud to exhibit the relationship.
In his writings to political and business friends, he protested on how slavery was immoral, but insisted that it had to continue. His chief concern was that in case slaves were freed, they would rise against their former oppressive masters (Kennedy 140). He insisted that freeing slaves would instigate violence in the south. He noted that the differences between slaves and their masters were so great that they could not coexist in the same environment should they get freed. His other concern was that economic survival in the south depended largely on free labor provided by slaves. These slaves worked in the large plantations owned by white masters. Jefferson had also noted that he felt African Americans were racially inferior and required paternal care (Jefferson 109). He, therefore, felt that it was upon the superior white race to take care of slaves, and thus the need for slavery to continue. After meeting a few freed, educated black slaves, his view on inferiority of the black race seemed to change. Jefferson in his writings contradicted himself since, on the one hand, he appears to claim slavery as immoral but, on the other hand, argues for it to continue. This contradiction begs the question as to whether Jefferson wast committed to abolishing slavery. He appears to be on a double edged sword as the end of slavery would have impacted negatively his personal, political and economic existence.
Questions also arise in regard to Jefferson’s silence and perceived inaction on slavery in the 1800s. His loud silence is viewed as that of a president who was not fully committed to ending slavery in his country. He appeared to take no public action against slavery in his state of Virginia or in his country. When slavery became presented as an issue of national concern, Jefferson simply dismissed it. In his purchase of Louisiana, Jefferson excluded the issue of slavery (Zinn 401). This was viewed as a way by him to try and maintain his support from the south and avoid the sectional conflict. Jefferson also made efforts to ban slavery in the newly acquired territories of the northwest, yet he failed to do the same in the south. His advocacy for slavery abolishment appears to have been prejudiced and not fair upon all the states in his country. Although Jefferson spoke vehemently on his plan to emancipate slaves to Africa, he never took any political action to oversee this. He only made proposals regarding emancipation of the slaves but clearly lacked the will in ensuring the process was reached and achieved. It is argued that Jefferson may have feared to undertake the process of emancipation. His fear sprung due to the fact that there occurred a violent uprising in Haiti (Coglian 203). The violence witnessed from slaves in Haiti may have made him to think twice about the repercussions of emancipation.
Conclusion
Thomas Jefferson is celebrated as an important figure in the history of United States. Not only was he the country’s third president, but also an accomplished writer, philosopher, architect and farmer. He was the chief author of the Declaration of Independence. Despite his other virtues, contradiction arises whenever his name is mentioned on his views of slavery. His statements reflect a man who was categorically opposed to slavery. He stated in his writings that he believed slavery to be immoral and an abominable crime which had to be abolished. Some of his deeds, though, reflect a man who was not entirely dedicated to ending slavery in his country or state. He personally owned slaves and, as president, went silent on the issue of slavery. He even contradicted himself in some of his correspondence to friends. He saw the black race as inferior to his own. He proclaimed that slaves required stewardship as they could not survive on their own. He did not want an end to slavery either since it would have meant a loss of free labor and economic downfall. He also feared for the safety of slave owners in case freed slaves ever decided to retaliate. Although he opposed slavery and viewed it as immoral, it is apparent that Thomas Jefferson’s views were a little twisted.
Works Cited
Bernstein, Richard B. Thomas Jefferson. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2005. Print.
Cogliano, Francis D. Thomas Jefferson: Reputation and Legacy. Vigirnia: University of Virginia
Press, 2008. Print.
Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia. South Carolina: Forgotten Books, 2010. Print.
Kennedy, Walter Donald. Myths of American Slavery. Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 2003. Print.
Spahn, Hannah. Thomas Jefferson, Time, and History. Virginia: University of Virginia Press,
2011. Print.
Zinn, Howard. A Peoples History of the United States. New York: HarperCollins, 2010. Print.
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