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Was Thomas Jefferson A Hero Or Hypocrite

481 Words2 Pages

Harrison Rayner
Mrs. Bergeron-Kloc
Thomas Jefferson: Hero or Hypocrite Essay
3/6/23

Thomas Jefferson claimed that all colored men had natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; however in reality, Jefferson was a renowned hypocrite and owner of more than six hundred slaves in his lifetime. Throughout his life, Jefferson was a semi-typical slave owner who took advantage of colored men for their labor. Furthermore, when Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he attempted to use the British as a scapegoat for their transgressions. In addition, Jefferson may have opposed the notion of slavery, however, ultimately, he was a hypocrite for his beliefs as he owned hundreds of slaves in his lifetime.

Thomas Jefferson postulated in the Declaration of Independence that slavery was inhuman yet was a callous hypocrite that treated his slaves brutally. Moreover, Jefferson asserted to Edward Rutledge, former governor of South Carolina, “I congratulate you… on the law of your state for suspending the importation of slaves… There is a bench reserved in heaven for those who hasten [slavery].”( Jefferson letter to Rutledge: 1787, July 14). Jefferson incorporates religious beliefs into his letter to amplify the gravity of the situation similar to recent historical events such as the Salem witch trials which leveraged off of the skewed perception of religion. …show more content…

Moreover, Jefferson submits the following quote in his notes on the state of Virginia in 1789: “That the blacks, whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by time and circumstances, are inferior to the whites in the endowments both of body and mind”. (Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia:1789). Conversely, Jefferson changes his opinion of slavery for means of self

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