Thomas Jefferson's Influence On Slavery

Thomas Jefferson is one of the most enigmatic and mysterious figures in our history. Often leaving his personal past intentionally vague (burning letters, writing a rather scientific and analytical autobiography), that leaves those who study him in the dark about his deeper psychology. Jefferson is a man that exists in in dualities - the farmer and the politician, the advocate for small government with a wealthy past, the voice of liberty and also the owner of slaves. It is this final dichotomy that is perhaps the most perplexing. Jefferson authored the words “we hold these truths to be self evident - that all men are created equal”, and yet he owned over 130 African Americans. This is contradictory to say the least, but understanding and analyzing this duality can give one a much more broad context for racism in America, both past and present. Before diving deep into Jefferson’s writings on slavery, it is imperative to understand Jefferson’s relationship to scientific data - most specifically, to scientific racism. Thomas Jefferson placed a lot of emphasis on being able to prove something …show more content…
“There must doubtless be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between mater and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions… Our children see this, and learn to imitate it”, from the same query as mentioned above. Rather unsurprisingly, Jefferson is not concerned with the moral or physical effects of slavery on those that are being enslaved; rather, he is worried about the ethical consequences on white masters and children. Now one can understand that Jefferson is coming at the issue of slavery from his own bubble - whether ignorant by choice or as a result of racism or a combination of the two, he lacks empathy and understanding toward Africans, yet willingly offers it to their