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Thomas Jefferson's Views on Slavery

The problem of slavery and its material and moral flaws had bothered Thomas Jefferson's conscience for a long time. While he realized that complete abolition was impossible for the present time, he tried at least to prevent its increase. During colonial times he had turned against the British, in part, because the king vetoed Virginia's attempts to prohibit the further importation of slaves. Now that Virginia independent of Britain, Jefferson worked to promulgate laws that would prevent further importation of slaves from abroad and from other states as well (Schachner 153).

Although Jefferson had favored the discontinuance of the slave trade before the Revolution and definitely proposed it as early as 1776, the measure of 1778, regarding this issue, was introduced by another at a time when he was not present in the House (Malone 264). This bill was to prevent the future importation of slaves in Virginia. However, it was likely that Jefferson favored this bill. In Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, written to explain correct ideas about America to the French government, and written before the 1778 bill, he advocated gradual emancipation (Malone 264).

Jefferson had perceived an encouraging change in attitude toward slavery since the beginning of the Revolution. The harshness of masters was abating, the spirit of the slaves was rising, and the conditions of the latter were being mollified. However, no one could find in his words any ground whatsoever for the opinion that slavery in 18th century Virginia was or would ever become a beneficent institution. Jefferson regarded it as fundamentally cruel, and was in no possible doubt that it undermined the morals and destroyed the industry of the masters while degrading the victims (Malone 264). In addition, it sapped the foundation of all liberties by denying that freedom was the gift of God and the birthright of all men, regardless of their color or condition.

In his Notes on Vi...

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Thomas Jefferson's Views on Slavery. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 12:22, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1681836.html