I give no leeway to Jefferson, but some to Washington, who did turn against slavery after the American Revolution and never expressed the level of racism that Jefferson did.
The slaves Washington didn’t free in his will were ones he, legally, could not. Washington made plans to free his slaves before he died, but he was one of the largest debtors in America, having gone deep into debt funding the American Revolution, and couldn’t find a buyer for Mount Vernon that would have allowed him to pay his debts and retire.
Ideally, Washington would have freed his slaves regardless, and his attitude in the end is that of a stuffy old patrician more interested in doing right things the ‘right’ way than doing right things in a timely manner. But I think that’s not unreasonable to expect of a man of his upbringing and era. He was deeply flawed, and a man of his time.
Jefferson, on the other hand? Making outrageous purchases and expansions to your house and then pleading debt as to the reason why he totally couldn’t free his slaves? Fuck him.
I learned a lot recently about how many landowners and even founding fathers motivation to split from great Britain, was based on their hopes that it would wipe out their huge debts in England.
Not as selfless about Liberty as it’s always been claimed.
I give no leeway to Jefferson, but some to Washington, who did turn against slavery after the American Revolution and never expressed the level of racism that Jefferson did.
At least he freed most of his slaves in his will. Jefferson only freed like 5 out of hundreds
The slaves Washington didn’t free in his will were ones he, legally, could not. Washington made plans to free his slaves before he died, but he was one of the largest debtors in America, having gone deep into debt funding the American Revolution, and couldn’t find a buyer for Mount Vernon that would have allowed him to pay his debts and retire.
Ideally, Washington would have freed his slaves regardless, and his attitude in the end is that of a stuffy old patrician more interested in doing right things the ‘right’ way than doing right things in a timely manner. But I think that’s not unreasonable to expect of a man of his upbringing and era. He was deeply flawed, and a man of his time.
Jefferson, on the other hand? Making outrageous purchases and expansions to your house and then pleading debt as to the reason why he totally couldn’t free his slaves? Fuck him.
I learned a lot recently about how many landowners and even founding fathers motivation to split from great Britain, was based on their hopes that it would wipe out their huge debts in England. Not as selfless about Liberty as it’s always been claimed.