Thomas Jefferson’s views on slavery were well established when he signed the declaration of independence. However, there is much debate over his actual beliefs because he owned nearly two hundred slaves who worked his plantation. The question being raised is why he didn’t free those slaves if he was so opposed to slavery.
Research shows that Thomas Jefferson was a gentle leader and treated his slaves as hired hands, rather than slaves and didn’t actually consider them property. He was in a lot of debt and his nearly two hundred slaves represented a huge investment. Furthermore, Jefferson believed that even if he could afford to free them, they were better off with him where they were respected as people and well cared for.
But Thomas Jefferson was a man of conscience and he knew it was hypocritical to claim freedom for all men while owning the lives of nearly two hundred. And many of his writings reflected his feelings of guilt in this matter. He knew if he freed them, most, if not all, would not leave. They were never overworked and were fed, housed and well treated. He was convinced in his mind that no man had the right to own another man and he wanted to free them, but he knew that financially, it would ruin him.
It must’ve been very difficult for Thomas Jefferson. He knew that all men were created equal and wrestled constantly with his conscience over his own slaves. One in particular was a woman named Sally Hemings who actually became the mother of his children. This fact shocked a lot of people and is what prompted most of the research that has been done on him.
According to research, Thomas Jefferson fought diligently for slave rights, opposing the transatlantic slave trade vehemently. One of his quotes was, “that each slave be fed and clothed well. Protect them from ill usage and require such reasonable labor only as is performed voluntarily by freeman.” His convictions were honest and sincere, but owning a lot of slaves made him appear to be a hypocrite, but not nearly as much to others as it did to him.
Thomas Jefferson’s views on slavery are very apparent. He strongly believed it was wrong and did more than anyone in history had ever done toward freeing them. He even took one, Sally Hemings, as his wife, and the mother of his children, which has been proven and documented. She was freed upon his death, along with a few others. His remaining slaves were sold to satisfy his debts.
Many of the slave owners of that time were Christians and ignorantly believed that slavery was acceptable in the eyes of God. They erred greatly. Today’s Christian realizes full well that anyone who has experienced salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, and freedom from the slavery of sin knows that enslaving another human being is wrong.
