Thomas Jefferson White Supremacy Essay

The founding father, Thomas Jefferson, is known for his intellect and historical impact. Credited as the lead author of the Declaration of Independence and an opposer of slavery, his views on the black race originally came as a shock to me. In “Thomas Jefferson on the African Race,” Jefferson states that in order to compare the races they must be tested in America by the white standard. In doing this, Jefferson cements whiteness as default and perpetuates an ideology that has not been overturned to this day.

Thomas Paine was opposed to slavery due to the quote he said. "Slave, who is proper owner of his freedom, has the right to reclaim it, however often sold." He goes on to say the African slaves were forced into the slavery due to the Europeans bring liquor to there land, bribing one against another, and hiring tribes to fight other tribes. Thomas Paine was an original member of the Anti Slavery formed in Philadelphia. Thomas Paine was also wrote in the Pennsylvania Journal how it was wrong to have Slaves. He also authored a book called “Common Sense” which was a book against slavery.

He also mentioned that Jefferson also worried that the abolishment of slaves would leave the large farming lands that’s dependent mainly on slaves to fail due to the reduced amount of labor work(3). Despite of Jefferson’s thoughts he continued on with his long journey to abolish slavery.

In multiple letters and notes he wrote he expressed his guilt for the slaves and once the slaves paid off their debt and Jefferson’s he hoped to free them. Jefferson and his slaves remained in debt until the day he died. Jefferson believed that slavery not only deprived blacks of their liberty but had an “unhappy” influence on the masters and their children (Takaki 63). If a master is constantly punishing a slave and cannot restrain, the child’s master will imitate and master it, resulting in a nonstop cycle of slavery. Jefferson wanted to abolish slavery but when freed they had to be removed from society since slaves took up most of Virginia’s population. In order to have a “disappearance” of an entirely black population Jefferson deported the future generation by shipping infants to Haiti. Jefferson believed deportation was the best solution because blacks and whites couldn’t coexist in America because of the nature of our color and intelligence. Blacks were “inferior” and were not capable of Christian virtue and salvation (Takaki 65). Many African Americans challenged Jefferson with evidence of what they are capable of but Jefferson refused to change his “opinion” (Takaki

Thomas Jefferson was President of United State, before the American Revolution he was governor of Virginia and run the office for years, he was vice president under John Adam. He spoke to the people of how he wanted to become President and how his experience can benefit America for a better future. Jefferson owns a lot of slaves after his father died, he inherited them, along with his other brothers. Slavery was always a concern to Jefferson throughout his life, he really didn’t know if he like slavery or not, as president he wanted to free the slave. However, he believes that black was inferior to white, also he had too many slaves that basically help with everything he had, with hard labor.

Thomas Jefferson is thought to be a mass of contradictions. His views on slavery, religion, and education greatly puzzle those who analyze his life. From the time Thomas Jefferson was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775, he astounded America with his vast ideas and expertise. Some perceived Jefferson as a radical atheist because of his views on education, though he had purposeful equality in mind. No American Founding Father is so controversial and honored. Most know of his accomplishments as a writer and president, but deep in his array of feats lie his views on education. His life’s work and plans for public education shaped America forever.

During the 1808-1861, the slavery in America is a really big issue that cause many problem that come afterward. I believed that every men and women are born equally from god. We should have our own life, liberties, and opportunities to live in a better life. However, when the slavery started to appear into our society, many controversy and conflict also come as a result of slavery. In the book, “The Neglected Period of Anti-Slavery in America” of Alice Dana Adams, he wrote an interesting quote from David Benedict, saying that “The existence of slavery in a country is calculated to awaken all the propensities of human nature, whether good or bad.” This show that slavery is a cause of many problem. So I strongly believe that slavery is immoral

Thomas Jefferson is commonly known to be a contradiction. Whether it is on the idea of slavery or on the idea of Indians, Jefferson seems not to just pick one view. This contradiction may be due to the different identities of Southerners, Virginians, and Americans. Southern identities can be part of where Jefferson describes the nature. The same goes for Virginia. American identity is definitely seen throughout his book Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson primarily focused on a unity of these multiple identities based upon race, nature, and properly organized society.

Thomas Jefferson always viewed slavery as a “moral depravity and a hideous blot.”(5) Jefferson felt it also was a great threat to the nation 's survival and opposing the laws of nature, which every person had the right liberty. When the American Revolution was taking place, Jefferson was connected with the legislation in hopes it result in abolishment of slavery. In his attempts to abolish slavery Jefferson drafted the Virginia law in 1778 “that prohibited the importation of enslaved Africans.”(6) In 1784 he also “proposed in an ordinance that would ban slavery in the Northwest territories.”(7) These were steps towards the abolishment of slavery, but for it to be successful it had to part of a democratic process Jefferson believed. It would take something like the Emancipation Proclamation to make his beliefs come true.

Thomas Jefferson, renown scholar and founding father, builds a strong and compelling argument for the independence of America through his use of educated and formal rhetoric. Jefferson attempts to sway both the British King, King George III, and the American people to believe that declaring independence is the best course of action for the success of America in the future. In order to convince the King George III and American colonists Jefferson uses a strong and upstanding tone throughout this document.

Stephen Ambrose’s writings of our Founding Founder’s contributions to our country are fascinating. Not only did Ambrose discuss what made our past Presidents great, but he also discussed their shortcomings—professionally and personally. Most people have a preconceived idea of the contributions our Founding Fathers, which is mostly positive. What they do not realize is that like the men that came before them (Christopher Columbus), they were less than perfect. Moreover, one could draw the theory that some of our founding fathers were bigoted, racist's men. When in reality, during the early-mid part of their lifetime, their beliefs and actions-such as owning slaves-were not looked down upon, but merely an accepted practice during that time.

He was a stronger advocate in ending with the oppression of the most in need. He cared about the people of the new nation, he did not want to have the same rules from which ones the first colonists were running out from England. Dignity and respect is what makes a person valuable and he wanted everybody to have those principles. That is why in the Declaration of independence one of the strongest words Thomas Jefferson emphasized is that “All men were created equal” (unihistory.org, 2015). Because of this statement, all individuals deserve to be treated with justice and respect regardless of social status or

His first thought about the constitution was that the Founding Fathers knew the different interest of northern and southern states regarding slavery. His second claim was that the constitution protected slavery for three reasons. The first reason was because it was their natural right. His second reason was that it was the duty of the general government. The constitution was required to protect owners and all forms of property. During that time, slaves were thought of as property so this law would apply to them as well. His last reason was that the states and the federal government had entered an agreement together. Jefferson Davis also mentioned non-intervention. Non- intervention meant that congress should neither prohibit nor establish slavery in the states. By congress interfering with slavery they are breaking their own law in which they made. Jefferson Davis also offered a solution to the problem at hand. He proposed Territorial Legislature. Territorial Legislature is the understanding that the congress has no power to interfere with the right of a person or its property. For people to accuse those of proslavery of discrimination or any other foul doing would be like robbing them of their rights the constitution has so gladly blessed them

Former Presidents Madison, Monroe, and Adams each believed that the institution of slavery should be illegal, though they were inconsistent in supporting their stance. In the case of two of the former president's stated, they were contradicting their own views. President Madison, “held slaves” even though, “he was opposed to the practice”(“Slavery Views”). Madison's presidency, like Jefferson in the late 1700s, believed in the gradual emancipation of slaves in order to prevent commotion as well as indirectly keep the slaves for an increased amount of time. In regards to Madison’s repertoire in his presidency, he was unable to directly address the slavery issue. Like Madison, Monroe was another participant in the practice he so called did not support. Monroe was known, “... as the owner of

Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia, April 13th, 1743. He died July 4th, 1826 in Monticello near Charlottesville. During this time Thomas Jefferson was voted U.S Vice President, U.S. Governor, Government Official, Diplomat and of course U.S. President. He attended College of William and Mary. Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States. During his time of presidency one of his greatest achievements was the Louisiana purchase, but he faced a few problems with it.