Thomas Jefferson and Slavery

Contents

1  Introduction historical context and some information about Thomas Jefferson  3

2  Interpretation of selected writings of Thomas Jefferson with regard to slavery  4

2.1  A Summary View of the Rights of British America  4

2.2  Declaration of Independence  5

2.3  Notes on the State of Virginia  6

2.3.1  Query XIV: Laws  6

2.3.2  Query XVIII: Manners  7

2.4  First Inaugural Address  8

2.5  Selected parts of family letters of Thomas Jefferson  9

3  Conclusion inconsistency in Thomas Jefferson s writings about the issue of slavery  10

4  Bibliography  12

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1 Introduction – historical context and some information about Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson can be considered as one of the most important Presidents of the United States of America.

He was born in 1743 in Virginia and after having been enrolled in The College of Wil- liam and Mary in Williamsburg, he started his political career at the end of the 1760s. In 1769, Jefferson was elected as a legislator. In 1775, he was one of the delegates at the second Continental Congress. Four years later, Jefferson became Governor of Virginia. In 1797, he was elected Vice-President and in 1801, he finally became the third President of the United States of America (Dumbauld XI-XVI).

Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He lived during the time of revolution and American efforts to reach independence from Great Britain and to establish democracy in the United States.

During his life, he published many writings on democracy, liberty, and equality. “The central feature of Jefferson’s political creed was his concern for human freedom.” (qtd. in Dumbauld IX). In 1774, he wrote his first published work A Summary View of the Rights of British America. Two years later, he became famous for writing the main part of the Declara- tion of Independence. Furthermore, he published the book Notes on the State of Virginia and during his presidency, his First Inaugural Address was very important. In all these writings, Jefferson emphasized democracy, liberty and equality, but he had many problems realizing his concepts, especially with regard to slavery, which became a fundamental problem for Jef- ferson and in the United States of America in general.

In the following work, Jefferson’s above mentioned writings will be analyzed with re- gard to slavery and the inconsistency in his writings about the issue of slavery will be demon- strated. Furthermore, his personal behavior towards bondage will be presented by analyzing some family letters.

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2 Interpretation of selected writings of Thomas Jefferson with regard to slavery

2.1 A Summary View of the Rights of British America

A Summary View of the Rights of British America was Jefferson’s first book to be printed

(Dumbauld 16). As it was written in 1774, this document, with a clear political opinion, straight political claims and really revolutionary aims, was quite sensational.

It is based on John Lock’s conception of natural law and natural rights. With this paper, with the demand for change and improvement and the instructions for and accusations against George III, Jefferson calls for a free America:

“That these are our grievances which we have thus laid before his Majesty with that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes a free people claiming their rights as derived from the laws of nature and not as the gift of their chief magistrate” (qtd. in Dumbauld 32).

In A Summary View of the Rights of British America Jefferson talks about the wrongful treat- ment of American people by the King of Great Britain. He refers to tyranny and maintains that Great Britain treats the people of the New World like slaves. Finally this argument leads him to the problem of slavery in America.

“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of op- pressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of min- isters, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematical plan of reducing us to slavery” (qtd. in Dum- bauld 22).

Jefferson argues that the American people “[…] should suddenly be found the slaves not of one but of one hundred and sixty thousand tyrants […]” (qtd. in Dumbauld 23). He calls upon George III to stop the injustice because in Great Britain and in British America “[…] every individual of whom is equal to every individual of them in virtue, in understanding, and in bodily strength” (qtd. in Dumbauld 23). Jefferson talks about equality. He argues that all men are equal in British America and in Great Britain and that they therefore should be treated equally. Finally, Jefferson uses this statement to maintain that slavery is wrong and should be abolished. However, he also claims that George III wrecks America’s efforts against slavery: “The abolition of domestic slavery is the great object of desire in those colonies where it was, unhappily, introduced in their infant state. But previous to the enfranchisement of the slaves we have, it is necessary to exclude all further importations from Africa. Yet our repeated attempts to effect this, by prohibitions and by imposing duties which might amount to a prohibition, have been hitherto defeated by his Majesty’s negative […]” (qtd. in Dumbauld 26-27).

In the last passage, Jefferson also includes the higher law by mentioning God: “God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time” (qtd. in Dumbauld 33). Liberty and slavery are con- tradicting. Therefore, God wants everybody alive to be free.

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