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Holding a wolf by the ears…

Race, Economics, & the Complexity of Thomas JeffersonMr. McDonald

Jordan High SchoolDurham, North Carolina

The Complexity of Race

All men are created equal

vs.

The institution of slavery

The peculiar institution

A necessary evil?

Jefferson on Slavery…

• He believed that the purchase of Louisiana territory would dilute slavery as it spread; it would be less harsh. Was he right?

• He notes that “there’s nothing to justify it” and favors emancipation, providing that – it is gradual– the owner is compensated– there is compulsory colonization (South America)

Jefferson on Slavery, cont…

• Early in his life, Jefferson is morally opposed to the institution of slavery, gaining most of his slaves from inheritance

• Jefferson is considered a “good” slave owner (is there such a thing?) as he rarely uses the whip, offers incentive programs for his slaves, and suggests that the institution corrupts whites through a system of hierarchy

Jefferson on Slavery, cont.

• He’s given opportunities to oppose slavery, but doesn’t when the option exists. – After American Revolution, people work on

manumission laws. He does not. People free their slaves. He does not.

– Later in his life, it becomes a problem for future people to deal with.

– There was a gap between political ideology and action – all men are created equal?

Slave dwellings and

worksites once stood along tree-

lined avenue close to the

main Monticello

house.

Artist's rendition of "Building s", a slave cabin

along Monticello's Mulberry Row.

Display approximating the ration of food (cornmeal, fish, and pork) given to each adult slave per week.

This document, a page from Jefferson’s Farm Book, lists the names of all the slaves he sold or gave as gives from 1784-1794.

Over his lifetime, Jefferson owned somewhere between 500-600 slaves due to inheritance from his father and father-in-law and natural increase.

He gave them as gifts quite often. Upon his death, they auctioned 130. Only 5 were given their freedom.

Jefferson “grew” over 330 varieties of vegetables at Monticello. He would often sit in this building and watch his slaves work in the fields and garden.

Jefferson's grandson ran this ad

announcing the public sale of

Jefferson's personal property including

"130 valuable negroes."

The Complexity of Wealth & Image

Common Man or Aristocrat?

Jefferson and Wealth

• Jefferson is complicated when it comes to his image and leader of the common man and his image and desire for wealth– He believes that an “empire” is needed but an

empire requires things that he doesn’t like (federal power)

– For example, he welcomes official visitors to Monticello in slippers; the building, however, conveys wealth and aristocracy

Jefferson and Wealth, cont…

• Embargo Act of 1807 – He tells people that cannot trade when his ethos is free trade

• This in itself is a stunning extension of federal power…ironic for a Democratic-Republican that favors “limited government”?

Jefferson and Wealth, cont…

• Jefferson believed in an “equality” of no aristocracy, property rules, rotation in office, shared prosperity, and broad political participation…

• But, his version of “republicanism” was not a society that welcomed the equality of all involved

Monticello made up 5,000 acres of Jefferson’s land ownership. This photo of Montalto (Jefferson’s mountain property

that went undeveloped) made up an additional 571 acres

Jefferson grew hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables in his various gardens at Monticello.

Jefferson used the nearby Rivanna River to ship wheat and other goods to markets in Richmond and beyond.

Tobacco was Monticello's main cash crop until the 1790s.

Throughout his life, Jefferson wrote many of his 19,000 letters in his cabinet, or study (pictured to the left)

Jefferson is responsible for many of the era’s inventions and innovations

He also created the architectural design for his home at Monticello and the layout for the University of Virginia

Views of Monticello’s parlor; Jefferson would welcome guests in this

part of the house.

Frequent guests to Monticello included James Madison and

James Monroe

Monroe Plantation

Monroe’s plantation was less than five miles from Monticello. What differences do you notice?

"But as it is, we have the wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other."

-Thomas Jefferson