Jon Meacham, author of "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power," discusses in this extended interview clip for "Sunday Morning" how the Founding Father fought against the practice of slavery even as he himself owned slaves.
Jefferson was overall a good Founding Father and President, but the bottom line on slavery is he didn't walk his talk. Forget eliminating slavery for everyone, he didn't have to own slaves himself. He did it because he benefitted financially from it, and used Sally Hemmings, at approximately 14 years old, as a concubine.Interestingly, she was 75% white, with three white grandparents.
To my understanding, Jefferson wanted to directly address slavery in the declaration, but was pressured to take it out by Congress on top of already fighting in the American Revolution. I look at what Jefferson did and I just see a man that's struggling over what to do with slavery while not adding more bloodshed from the wolf slavery was described to be, and I'm not sure how freeing slaves into a society that didn't seem them as equals would have played out either.
Fact of the matter is that Jefferson was a complicated man and, largely, a product of his time. Even though he owned slaves, he didn’t justify slavery. On the other hand, you had folks like Charles Pinckney, who supported and justified slavery. Figures like him paved the way for figures of the Antebellum period like John C Calhoun. You have to remember that revolutionary period brought with it a wave of private manumissions by a number of planter families of Virginia. This was done out of a sense of liberty that men of that period bore that they saw to be line with the ideals of the American revolution.
The historian Page Smith said that Jefferson was critical of slavery until he was deeply in debt. At that point, he sat down with his farm accounts and discovered that raising slaves like livestock was highly profitable. He thereafter did not express criticism of slavery. The ugly truth. Why is it not well known?
@Sallie Skakel Uuuuh he died deeply in debt (which is why he couldn’t free his slaves even if he wanted to) and had slaves that were basically handed/inherited to him when he was a young man. Your statement makes no sense.
No one should be judged only by their wrongs, but on the whole of their lives, and primarily by those who actually know them, not folks 200 years later who know very little about them.
@@MrGuzmanra wrong. Jesus life was written and read by a community of His followers. This interview is based on the análisis of someone who is interpreting TJ life to us. In the Gospel, we have Jesus sayings, teachings, ethics, life miracles and his Resurrección together with explanations of why these things were written down for us. Therefore, in the case of Jesus, the motif are more explicits and straightforward, in the case of TJ it is not. We know what Jesus thought about sin, siners, salvation, redemption, life and death, forgiveness etc. that level of clarity is lacking in the storyline of TJ regarding slavery. The Two cases aren’t equal.
@@anom3778 Slaves didn't make anyone rich, and all of the founding fathers can be found quoting that they dislike slavery. Thomas Jefferson supported the prohibition of importing African slaves in 1808. "This legislation was promoted by President Thomas Jefferson, who called for its enactment in his 1806 State of the Union Address. He had promoted the idea since the 1770s."
@@anom3778 Slaves were a terrible economic mistake. The southern states were among the poorest in the country. Slaves needed to be raised from birth and cared for in old age, which is NOT free labor.
I don't personally know Mr. Meacham but I would like to ask him how able is he to divorce himself personally from the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and how much of the legacy of Thomas Jefferson does he accept, and I mean good and bad. I think I'd find that much more interesting. Otherwise TJ was a human being, just like others, in a position of influence and power, just like others, probably no better and no worse.
I think many of us view the removal of slavery from this country's early history as having been totally on Jefferson to accomplish. He was one man in one colony. We're under the misapprehension that the Dec. of Ind. was his personal manifesto, wherein he could've abolished slavery with the stroke of a pen. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was assigned by the Continental Congress to a committee for the purpose of drafting such a document, i.e., the document being a statement regarding independence. Jefferson was chosen specifically by the other members to write the words comprising it. Both the committee & the Congress itself edited Jefferson's draft. As Meacham pointed out, he, Jefferson, tried many times during his life to get bills passed outlawing the hateful practice. He knew slavery was morally wrong but its elimination was considered impossible at that time. Yes, he could've set an example by freeing his own slaves. That he didn't is regrettable but it never was up to him to end slavery single-handled. Despite the hypocrisy which existed between the Dec.'s principles & his own slavery-dependent lifestyle, the man did the best he could. To demand something more of him is, I think, both unfair & unrealistic.
Did he give up or did he compromise in order to say the declaration was unanimous to give it more power that it would succeed and someday later we could end slavery? To those who can't see past his slaves, remember that if he got his way, his own slaves would be free. He didn't free his own slaves otherwise because he was in debt so Virginia law wouldn't allow him to free them.
We had white slaves at the beginning of our history and it was from what had already occured in Europe. There were very little or no blacks here for a while. Jefferson had a problem with gossip about a black mistress. No black can claim to be connected to our American Revolution, they try to claim.that through marriage, the stigma of black and white couples today is still just that. It wasnt happening back then. The Founding Father's for all their imperfections were deeply religious men, and knew better. They released their white slaves. What has been written and depicted has been false and propaganda. We had enough problems with Europe, abd indigenous Anerican Indians. It was Europe that had that problem, but kept it a bay for awhile.
To my understanding, Jefferson wanted to directly address slavery in the declaration, but was pressured to take it out by Congress on top of already fighting in the American Revolution. I look at what Jefferson did and I just see a man that's struggling over what to do with slavery while not adding more bloodshed from the wolf slavery was described to be, and I'm not sure how freeing slaves into a society that didn't seem them as equals would have played out either.
he could not find a path forward... because in order for whites to be free, slavery was an absolute necessity. without slavery this country would not exist. ...the saga continues!
I don't think that is the case. The main problem was that if you abolished slavery then what do you do with the millions of blacks living in the united states. It was such a huge problem to repatriate millions of people that it was better to push the problem down the road.
You do not have to celebrate the fact they owned slaves, but can gladly indulge in all of the good things they tried to accomplish for others. I think most of the slaves were treated fairly (and saying that because it's my honest belief based on various accounts of Historical evidence) , that should be inspiration for you as an individual to develop your own point of view, and try to make it one of the best one's out there. Jefferson stood for the sovereignty of his own people.
Because it's better to celebrate someone who was like a victim of the shortcomings of their own time and circumstance, than to become another pawn of what is created for African American's (and really just about anyone) , by things like internationalism and the corporate media. Which literally poisons your own people with at least half a lie of being accountable, for the destructive kinds of things that are out there like: Hip-Hop (I like what Tupac stood for) , drugs, prostitution, etc.
Jefferson was a man of his time but he also was a man who did not understand God. The very problem he put to the side would be the very thing God would use to bring an end to slavery 40 years after his death. He thought his kind was the only right thing humans. It almost ended his grand nation.
Explain how anyone else 'understood God's and therefore dealt with the issue at the time. Jefferson understood the bible better than most people today and back then.
Jefferson was overall a good Founding Father and President, but the bottom line on slavery is he didn't walk his talk. Forget eliminating slavery for everyone, he didn't have to own slaves himself. He did it because he benefitted financially from it, and used Sally Hemmings, at approximately 14 years old, as a concubine.Interestingly, she was 75% white, with three white grandparents.
He released all his slaves when he died and wrote many times that slavery was a stain on the freedom of the United States. Just look at his quotes
To my understanding, Jefferson wanted to directly address slavery in the declaration, but was pressured to take it out by Congress on top of already fighting in the American Revolution. I look at what Jefferson did and I just see a man that's struggling over what to do with slavery while not adding more bloodshed from the wolf slavery was described to be, and I'm not sure how freeing slaves into a society that didn't seem them as equals would have played out either.
Trump 2020
No he didn’t, he had most of them sold at death, he only freed his children.
@@Gamenetreviews That's one of the things that really gets me about Jefferson. He literally enslaved his own children until he died
Fact of the matter is that Jefferson was a complicated man and, largely, a product of his time. Even though he owned slaves, he didn’t justify slavery. On the other hand, you had folks like Charles Pinckney, who supported and justified slavery. Figures like him paved the way for figures of the Antebellum period like John C Calhoun. You have to remember that revolutionary period brought with it a wave of private manumissions by a number of planter families of Virginia. This was done out of a sense of liberty that men of that period bore that they saw to be line with the ideals of the American revolution.
so basically he was like Frederick II of Prussia who wished there was no serfdom although he depended on it.
He tried to free his own slaves but the courts ruled against it, I believe.
The historian Page Smith said that Jefferson was critical of slavery until he was deeply in debt. At that point, he sat down with his farm accounts and discovered that raising slaves like livestock was highly profitable. He thereafter did not express criticism of slavery. The ugly truth. Why is it not well known?
None of this is well known. Most people don't know of Jefferson's attempts at ending slavery. When was this discovery of his made according to Page?
@Sallie Skakel Uuuuh he died deeply in debt (which is why he couldn’t free his slaves even if he wanted to) and had slaves that were basically handed/inherited to him when he was a young man. Your statement makes no sense.
Sha man he got the Thomas Jefferson 76’s
No one should be judged only by their wrongs, but on the whole of their lives, and primarily by those who actually know them, not folks 200 years later who know very little about them.
Ur talking about Jesus?
Damn.. Well said.
@@MrGuzmanra wrong. Jesus life was written and read by a community of His followers. This interview is based on the análisis of someone who is interpreting TJ life to us.
In the Gospel, we have Jesus sayings, teachings, ethics, life miracles and his Resurrección together with explanations of why these things were written down for us. Therefore, in the case of Jesus, the motif are more explicits and straightforward, in the case of TJ it is not. We know what Jesus thought about sin, siners, salvation, redemption, life and death, forgiveness etc. that level of clarity is lacking in the storyline of TJ regarding slavery. The Two cases aren’t equal.
Had to watch this for class but I zoned out
For someone who is against slavery, he sure did love it.
You don't understand the complexities. And you would love it too back then if you were white and slaves made you rich. That's how humans are.
@@anom3778 Slaves didn't make anyone rich, and all of the founding fathers can be found quoting that they dislike slavery. Thomas Jefferson supported the prohibition of importing African slaves in 1808.
"This legislation was promoted by President Thomas Jefferson, who called for its enactment in his 1806 State of the Union Address. He had promoted the idea since the 1770s."
@@historynut3460 slaves didn't make anyone rich? You sure about that? They sure were a hella of lot richer than they would have been.
@@anom3778 Slaves were a terrible economic mistake. The southern states were among the poorest in the country. Slaves needed to be raised from birth and cared for in old age, which is NOT free labor.
@@historynut3460 then why did they do it? Also, who said it was free labor?
I don't personally know Mr. Meacham but I would like to ask him how able is he to divorce himself personally from the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and how much of the legacy of Thomas Jefferson does he accept, and I mean good and bad. I think I'd find that much more interesting. Otherwise TJ was a human being, just like others, in a position of influence and power, just like others, probably no better and no worse.
Just read his book on jefferson..
I think many of us view the removal of slavery from this country's early history as having been totally on Jefferson to accomplish. He was one man in one colony. We're under the misapprehension that the Dec. of Ind. was his personal manifesto, wherein he could've abolished slavery with the stroke of a pen. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was assigned by the Continental Congress to a committee for the purpose of drafting such a document, i.e., the document being a statement regarding independence. Jefferson was chosen specifically by the other members to write the words comprising it. Both the committee & the Congress itself edited Jefferson's draft. As Meacham pointed out, he, Jefferson, tried many times during his life to get bills passed outlawing the hateful practice. He knew slavery was morally wrong but its elimination was considered impossible at that time. Yes, he could've set an example by freeing his own slaves. That he didn't is regrettable but it never was up to him to end slavery single-handled. Despite the hypocrisy which existed between the Dec.'s principles & his own slavery-dependent lifestyle, the man did the best he could. To demand something more of him is, I think, both unfair & unrealistic.
he enslaved his own kids
they weren't his kids. They were fathered by his brother or a cousin. I cant recall which one.
Did he give up or did he compromise in order to say the declaration was unanimous to give it more power that it would succeed and someday later we could end slavery? To those who can't see past his slaves, remember that if he got his way, his own slaves would be free. He didn't free his own slaves otherwise because he was in debt so Virginia law wouldn't allow him to free them.
Presentism. Look it up. Try to understand the concept.
his smirk throughout the entire interview irritated me ..
Yup yup
We had white slaves at the beginning of our history and it was from what had already occured in Europe. There were very little or no blacks here for a while. Jefferson had a problem with gossip about a black mistress. No black can claim to be connected to our American Revolution, they try to claim.that through marriage, the stigma of black and white couples today is still just that. It wasnt happening back then. The Founding Father's for all their imperfections were deeply religious men, and knew better. They released their white slaves. What has been written and depicted has been false and propaganda. We had enough problems with Europe, abd indigenous Anerican Indians. It was Europe that had that problem, but kept it a bay for awhile.
Sounds like a lot of excuses in this video, Jefferson's actions spoke louder than his words; that he was pharisaical on the subject of slavery.
Compared to who?
To my understanding, Jefferson wanted to directly address slavery in the declaration, but was pressured to take it out by Congress on top of already fighting in the American Revolution. I look at what Jefferson did and I just see a man that's struggling over what to do with slavery while not adding more bloodshed from the wolf slavery was described to be, and I'm not sure how freeing slaves into a society that didn't seem them as equals would have played out either.
he could not find a path forward... because in order for whites to be free, slavery was an absolute necessity. without slavery this country would not exist. ...the saga continues!
I don't think that is the case. The main problem was that if you abolished slavery then what do you do with the millions of blacks living in the united states. It was such a huge problem to repatriate millions of people that it was better to push the problem down the road.
You do not have to celebrate the fact they owned slaves, but can gladly indulge in all of the good things they tried to accomplish for others. I think most of the slaves were treated fairly (and saying that because it's my honest belief based on various accounts of Historical evidence) , that should be inspiration for you as an individual to develop your own point of view, and try to make it one of the best one's out there. Jefferson stood for the sovereignty of his own people.
iYearn4Cats scary
In that time! Ended Slavery would have ruined the economy.
So????
The devil 😦
Because it's better to celebrate someone who was like a victim of the shortcomings of their own time and circumstance, than to become another pawn of what is created for African American's (and really just about anyone) , by things like internationalism and the corporate media. Which literally poisons your own people with at least half a lie of being accountable, for the destructive kinds of things that are out there like: Hip-Hop (I like what Tupac stood for) , drugs, prostitution, etc.
Jefferson was a man of his time but he also was a man who did not understand God. The very problem he put to the side would be the very thing God would use to bring an end to slavery 40 years after his death. He thought his kind was the only right thing humans. It almost ended his grand nation.
Explain how anyone else 'understood God's and therefore dealt with the issue at the time. Jefferson understood the bible better than most people today and back then.
Meacham is from the South, so even though he is a Left Winger, he must ipso facto be a racist. Such is the superficiality of the modern Left.
This man is a liar!!!
So what Jefferson like a little bit of the brown sugar every now and then!!!!!😀😀