Thomas Jefferson and Slavery

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 William
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 Declaration
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 Jefferson
and in the United States of America in general.
In the following work, Jefferson’s above mentioned writings will be analyzed with regard
to slavery and the inconsistency in his writings about the issue of slavery will be demonstrated.
Furthermore, his personal behavior towards bondage will be presented by analyzing
some family letters.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction - historical context and some information about Thomas Jefferson
• Interpretation of selected writings of Thomas Jefferson with regard to slavery
  • A Summary View of the Rights of British America
  • Declaration of Independence
  • Notes on the State of Virginia
    • Query XIV: Laws
    • Query XVIII: Manners
  • First Inaugural Address
  • Selected parts of family letters of Thomas Jefferson
• Conclusion - inconsistency in Thomas Jefferson's writings about the issue of slavery

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This term paper analyzes Thomas Jefferson’s writings with a focus on his views on slavery, aiming to demonstrate inconsistencies in his pronouncements on the subject. The analysis is further deepened by examining Jefferson’s personal conduct concerning slavery through the lens of his family letters.

• The evolving nature of Jefferson's views on slavery and equality
• The role of natural law and human rights in Jefferson's political philosophy
• The inherent contradiction between Jefferson's pronouncements on liberty and his ownership of slaves
• The influence of societal norms and the political realities of the time on Jefferson's writings
• The historical context of slavery in America and its impact on Jefferson's ideas

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter, "Introduction", provides a brief biographical overview of Thomas Jefferson, highlighting his significant roles as a founding father, President, and prolific writer. The chapter sets the stage for the paper by highlighting Jefferson's contributions to American democracy and his struggles with the issue of slavery.

The second chapter, "Interpretation of Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson with regard to Slavery", explores Jefferson's views on slavery as expressed in his key works. The chapter delves into "A Summary View of the Rights of British America", highlighting Jefferson's early arguments for liberty and equality. The chapter then analyzes the Declaration of Independence, focusing on its pronouncements on unalienable rights and the apparent inconsistency between Jefferson's rhetoric and the reality of slavery in America. The chapter proceeds to examine "Notes on the State of Virginia", particularly Query XIV and Query XVIII, analyzing Jefferson's perspectives on laws and social customs related to slavery. The chapter concludes by looking at Jefferson's First Inaugural Address and selected family letters, providing further insights into his evolving thoughts on the issue.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This term paper focuses on key themes of American political philosophy, specifically exploring the contradictions inherent in Thomas Jefferson's writings on liberty and equality alongside the realities of slavery in America. Key terms and concepts include: natural law, human rights, democracy, liberty, equality, slavery, hypocrisy, contradictions, historical context, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, "Notes on the State of Virginia", family letters, and the American Revolution.

Details

• Hochschule: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft in Germersheim)
• Veranstaltung: ‘Democratic Vistas’ in American Cultural History
• Note: 1,7
• Autor: Anonym (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2008
• Seiten: 12
• Katalognummer: V118432
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640216635
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Thomas Jefferson Slavery Vistas’ American Cultural History