Friday, September 23, 2011

Thomas Jefferson: Slave Owner and Abolitionist

Well, Young Scholars, we have gotten to one of the more "messy" issues in American history. Thomas Jefferson was an AMAZING American- he founded the University of Virginia, started the Library of Congress (in his will, he left his personal library to the government to start it), and even brought agricultural improvements like peas! That doesn't mean he was perfect. There has been debate going on for centuries (literally!) about his position on slavery. He worked publicly to have the institution of slavery ended, but privately held over 200 slaves, and DNA tests have proven recently that he fathered at least one of the seven children that a slave named Sally Hemmings gave birth to at Jefferson's home, Montecello. I want you to read the following article and ask thes following questions in your reply (all of them).

The link:

http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/schager/Hon%20US/2008/thomas_jefferson.htm


Questions:

1) Can a person fight for one thing publicly and then do the oppposite privately? Is that American?
2) Can we really judge Thomas Jefferson? That was over 200 years ago, and he was just as much a part of his society, where slavery was normal (I know it's weird to think it), he never knew the great African American thinkers we do.


Good luck, and good reading!

Mrs. H

22 comments:

  1. This is just the medicine I need this morning. Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

    I believe that it is almost common that Americans, mainly politicians, often say one thing publicly and another privately. for example, While reading Howard Zinn's writings Abraham Lincoln, was not necessarily against slavery, but used emancipation as a political move to help win the war between the states and reunite the Union. The cliche comes to mind, "Do as I say, not as I do". It does seem, to be an American, one can also be a hypocrite.

    It is puzzling to think that Jefferson wrote in the Declaration that, "All men are created equal..." yet not to include slaves or women. However, he did not in his first drafts if this great document. In true History texts one will see that it was Southern legislators who debated the parts of freeing slaves out of the Declaration, I believe for their economic gain. In Howard Zinn's writings, he suggests "men created equal..." meant Men and not Man. What I'm saying is, he did not include women or slaves as they were "inferior". Their suffrage went on for another century or so. I agree, this was the times.
    It is strange to think that Jefferson saw what the future may bring. Again, in Zinn's writings, he stated that during the 18th century their was a vast separation of classes. The elite were always fearful of rebellion from the poor, slaves, indentured servants, as well as the American Indians. I believe that the elite of the times took the opportunity to turn this rebellion toward England to take the heat off of themselves and to benefit themselves. Enough on that, I will save for another time. Back to my point, Jefferson's ability to see the future. His question of "What happens once the slaves are freed?". Well now, look what happened after the War between the States, after the slaves were freed and given forty acres and a mule they were basically forgotten and shunned. Let's look at today. African-Americans still argue that they are not treated equally even tough vast and great improvements have been made in just my life time. In other words, the last fifty years.
    I believe that Jefferson's misconception of blacks being inferior is their lack of education during this time. They were not aloud to receive education. I would love to be in the same room with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington Carver while they discussed agriculture. I bet Jefferson would rethink his beliefs.

    Kevin Warren

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  2. No that doesnt make people an American.I wonder what made him do something sneaky like that. it's kind of dirty what he did he should oflet them go with the others. i could see if he helped someone out and still did the right thing but he is kind of like a hypocrite. Yes you can judge mr jefferson, right is right and wrong is wrong. If he let the other slaves go he should of had the common sense to let the others go.

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  3. First of all,I think Jefferson deceived the public all in the interest of politics.Though it was wrong, I don't think Jefferson could help it because he needed, slaves to keep his business running.
    Jefferson was correct in his statement,"all men are created equal" since all that detemines skin color is just a simle difference in genes . I think his life should be discussed no judged because,being a lone ranger fighting for something your peers do not believe i was hard.He thought about the consequences and regrets should anything go wrong.Well, he was obviously wrong i his conclusions sice we have so many African American scholars now.The president is even half African American.
    I think his mistakes should be given a rest since it was so long ago.Most importantly,we are all integrated and living a peaceful life in a country of freedom.

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  4. I do not think that it makes you an american if you ack on way in public and then you go sum where and act differently for a reason to some one thats not being a true american. that has to do alot with jefferson cause he had wrote the decleration of idependence and had said that all men are created equal but then jefferson didnt treat his fellow men eqall. All though it happend over 200 years ago it stil doesnt give thomas jefferson the right to treat his fellow man the wrong way.

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  5. Yes an American can do that.Yes most Americans does that everyday.No, you can't really because that was years 200.I mean he did free two slave and didn't pursue two others slaves that ran away.I guess you can say "slavery was normal" back in time.
    Marcus keel

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  6. you can fight for something publicly and do something else privately, it simply depends on the persons view of right and wrong. For one, he had a plantation that NEEDED slaves for it to run properly, and while he wanted freedom for them, he still considered them inferior and saw no reason to cripple his income by dismissing the slaves. Because for one, what would they do if freed? Be shunned and segregated, hated and despised, and possibly enslaved by someone else again? Overall at the time, once in america they are probably never going home, so freedom may not be the most ideal situation at the time for a black man or women. And remember, he still beleived in their racial inferiority.

    So no, i dont think you can judge him for that. You cannot begin to understand the mindset of the typical american back then, you can glimpse it, and you can even fool yourself into beleiving that you 100% understand it, but you will never fully understand it. It is simply to different from us.

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  7. No it is not American and it is not truthful. Politicians always say one thing and do another. Thomas Jefferson was a smart man, but should have realized that God created us all. Fighting for one thing and doing the opposite is just politics. Yes, it was 200 years ago and slavery was part of society, but he should have freed his slaves to let people know that he meant what he said. All men are created equal and he should have seen that and let the slaves go.

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  8. No , It's really not the American way you can say. &And politics it's just being Human , Like you really can't blame or wrong Jefferson , that was like 200 years ago. Jefferson is Human like all of us, and he might have regrets of the stuff he do, but I guess he learns from them.

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  9. I wouldn't say that is American but, the majority of americans do this a lot. People say one thing then do the opposite. I won't lie I have been guilty of this myself in the past but, i don't believe in this. I always say practice what u preach. Don't act like something your not or better than you are because your only as good as you want to be. You show this by your actions. There for you can fight for one thing then practice another but, I don't agree with it. I find it hypocritical but, I don't think we should hold it against Thomas Jefferson after how much he has accomplished and after so many years have passed.

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  10. It's hard to define the American way. Some may see the opportunity in different ways. Thomas Jefferson had the beliefs of an ignorant time period, but at heart he was an idealist. Perhaps if he knew of the America today that we all know and love; if so then maybe he could of improved on his self morals. Then we wouldn't look back at him like a racist. Maybe he knew at heart we had to change race relation. Jefferson did own slaves but like many people, he's a hypocrite. So why be a hypocrite unless he finally saw the true idealism America should stand on. A free country where anyone can live no matter the race. So in today's world we can judge him because we know what's right. If we lived back then, we'd be like him. You wouldn't be able to imagine the idealism we have in today's world. Now can we judge him? I mean we all do things not everyone knows. So does if make us any better? Absolutely not. However we are only human.

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  11. Well in a way I do think it is wrong becuase your tryin to abolish slavery but yet you like it, and an American is a person with equal right. And really Thomas Jefferson isnt really giving them equal rights. I don't think we should judge him because like you said it was over 200 years ago and slavery was popular that time.
    -Sean Newbauer

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  12. 2) Can we really judge Thomas Jefferson? That was over 200 years ago, and he was just as much a part of his society, where slavery was normal (I know it's weird to think it), he never knew the great African American thinkers we do.

    First of all who wants to judge Thomas Jefferson when he isn't alive. It has been 200 years ago like you said. Jefferson did not give African Americans equal rights like what the others had. Sometimes it is hard to fight for our socitey even thought we are salves.

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  14. It's completely normal and expected for someone to say one thing and do the opposite behind close doors, it happens all around the world every single day, all of us are guilty of it as well. Also, why should we judge Jefferson? He cheated on his wife with an african american, if he had enough affection for her, than that could hint to us that even though he might have slaves, he most likely shows them respect. I get the feeling that the slaves enjoyed working for him, I couldn't see Jefferson as a harsh slave owner.

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  15. A lot of people say we should not do one thing then go and do it when they go home. It is normal because almost every does it. and you just cant judge someone because they do that. I think we shouldn't judge Jefferson, because every rich white person had slaves. I think he had slaves to fit in and that is why after a while he try to convince people to end slavery. But it was wrong how he only father one of seven of his African American children.

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  17. Thomas Jefferson supported the unalienable rights of all men but privately supported slavery. In 1776, Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton who had inherited many slaves. Over the years, they had approximately 400 slaves. Although Jefferson said,"All men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness "In the Declaration of Independence he also had 400 slaves and only freed 5 of them. Personally, I do not think that Thomas Jefferson can't fight to abolish slavery publically and free only 5 out of his 400 slaves privately.

     To be an America you have to do what you preach to country. Thomas Jefferson did not support what he said, which is not American. Even though he fought for slaves freedom, he had many himself. Today, we can judge Thomas Jefferson because he didn't free his slaves but wanted everyone else to. When you talk the talk to such a large country you have to walk the walk or the people that support you will look at you as foolish.  

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  18. 1) If a person has outstanding views in the public but different ones in private it can seem as though they are a bit hypocritical. But they were not unamerican. Thomas Jefferson for instance produced thoughts in public which is the basis for our day to day laws present day. Yet, his support of slavery in private makes his views seem sketchy. But, He was supporting the idea of every man being equal so that the public could notice what they were doing was unjust.

    2) I wouldn't say Jefferson should be looked down upon because of his slave ownership. Maybe a bit of a hypocrite, but many people of our society today are the same way. Thomas Jefferson just had his own views and opinons. Some neither wrong or right.



    Dustin Bradley

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  19. If a person fought for one thing and then do the opposite privately then I kind of see them as being "two-faced." I don't understand how one person can expect others to follow as they do when they're doing the opposite in private, its just sending two different messages out to others. I don't really think it is American to sit there and say one thing but do the exact opposite of it, I think you should stand by your word, or do as you say. Thomas Jefferson shouldn't be judged for something he did over 200 years ago. What is done is done.

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  20. Fighting for one thing in public then doing the opposite privately is wrong in so many ways. Some people may consider him to be a hypocrite. If you believe in something then that shouldn't change if your around different people or in a different place.

    Yes you can really judge Thomas Jefferson. He should of known right from wrong. If he really believed that slavery was wrong then he should of stood up and freed all the slaves he had on his plantation.

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  21. No it's not American, but can a person fight for something and think a different way? Sure, you want to make people happy. So you'll do what it takes to make that happen. Is it right? Of course not.
    I don't think we should judge Jefferson. At that time it was normal. Just how 200 years from now something we think is normal now won't be normal then. Would we want them to judge us?! Of course not.

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  22. 1)No it's not American,Some people may consider him to be a hypocrite. If you believe in something then that shouldn't change if your around different people or in a different place.


    2)Thomas Jefferson when he isn't alive. It has been 200 years ago like you said. Jefferson did not give African Americans equal rights like what the others had. Sometimes it is hard to fight for our socitey even thought we are salves.
    -felicia parisi

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