Jefferson and Slavery:

Rationale:  With this web site, I hope to shed light on one of the great paradoxes of American history.  That paradox is: How could Thomas Jefferson, who penned the phrase “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”, also be a slave owner?  I do not intend to vilify or vindicate Jefferson, but instead present sources that will enhance understanding of the subject.  There is no simple explanation for Jefferson's rationale.  I will present the Declaration of Independence, personal letters from Jefferson, information on his plantation, Monticello, essays written by scholars on the debate, and sources about the Sally Hemmings controversy.

These sources will guide you through important issues that involve Jefferson and slavery:

1.  Declaration of Independence:  The declaration of Independence was primarily written by Jefferson.  It contains the ideals of the Revolution of the United States against Britain.  It contains the important phrase “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”.

2.  "Jefferson on Slavery":  This is an excerpt of a writing by Jefferson.  It displays many of the opinions of Jefferson about the institution of slavery.

3.  Personal Letters:  This section contains a selection of personal letters written by Thomas Jefferson.
        Note:  These letters were selected from a larger group at http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jeflxx.htm
        1791- to Benjamin Banneker (on the degraded condition of Blacks)
        1801- to James Monroe (African Colonization)
        1809- to Henri Gregoire (Negro race)
        1814- to Edward Coles (emancipation)
        1823- to Jared Sparks (plan for emancipation)
        1826- to James Heaton (issue of slavery)

4.  “Jefferson and Slavery” from http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/plantation/dig.html (Secondary Source)

1. Biographies of Monticello Slaves
    Note:   These biographies are from the official Monticello web site:  http://www.monticello.org
        1.  Sally Hemings (1773-1835)
        2.  Wormley Hughes (1781-1858)
        3.  James Hemings
 

2. "Sale of Monticello"  (1827)
        Note:  This information comes from the web site: http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/archives/documents/frame_ih198172.htm

1.  Accusation from the Richmond Recorder written by James T. Callender (August 4, 1818)
    Note:  Obtained from the http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/archives/documents/frame_ih198172.htm web site

2.  The Hemings-Jefferson Controversy: A Brief Account
    Note: Obtained from http://www.monticello.org/plantation/hemings-jefferson_contro.html

Official Monticello Web site:  http://www.monticello.org/

Web site for Ken Burns' documentary Thomas Jefferson http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/

Web site including many of Jefferson's writings: http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/tj3.htm

Links about the Hemings-Jefferson Debate: http://www.monticello.org/plantation/hemings_resource.html