Thomas Jefferson's Conflict with the Handling of Slavery
Early in his life, former United States President Thomas Jefferson wrote onhis gravestone: "Here was buried, Thomas Jefferson, Author of theDeclaration of Independence of the Statue of Virginia for religiousfreedom, Father of the University of Virginia." He wrote these texts at thebeginning of his political career, but wanted them to be placed on hisgravestone. This request implies that he still believed in the moralRumors have been circulating for years that, despite Thomas Jefferson'sreputed disdain for interracial relationships, he actually had sexualintercourse with a female slave that he owned and fathered several of herchildren (Truth Establishment, 2004). DNA testing and historical recordsreveal that it is very possible that Jefferson fathered all of the sixAccording to historians, it is unlikely that Hemings would have engaged inrelations with another after being connected with her master in such a way(Truth Establishment, 2004). Few male slaves would be willing to riskengaging in a sexual relationship with Sally Hemings after it was knownthat Jefferson took such a special liking to her. After all, this is a
You know, he likedto call the slaves 'My family. According to thestudy's authors, however, (The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 2004) "thesimplest and most probable" conclusion was that Thomas Jefferson was thefather of Eston Hemings. He advised married women against dancing because of the possible"ambiguity of issue" that might result. Brodie views Jefferson's preoccupation with Hemings as "one of the mostsubtly illuminating of all his writings, the daily journal he kept on aseven-week trip through eastern France, Germany, and Holland in March andApril of 1788 (Slepian, 2001). "In this light, it appears that, if Jefferson did engage in an affair with afemale slave, it was one based on emotions and respect, rather thanbrutality and taking advantage of a situation. It was only withthe rise of the Northern class of industrialists and wage workers, backedby the small farmers of the upper Midwest, that slavery began to beseriously challenged. Jefferson's views on this question evolved, and he showed an enlightenedand compassionate attitude toward the victims of slavery. According to Halyard and Shannon (1998): "The resurgence of ethnictensions, racism and bigotry in contemporary America is not the legacy ofJefferson's alleged failings. With the exception of a few, Jeffersonnever freed his slaves. ' Gaylord wanted this`sounded longer and louder through the length and breadth of the land'until a virtuous indignation should wipe out slavery. The very light skin and the resemblance of several of Sally's children toThomas Jefferson were remarked upon by a good number of those who werepresent at Monticello (Lewis, 2002).
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Acceptance Essays
