CONTEXT

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the US, was a slave owner his entire adult life. Yet in some of his writings he noted that slavery was harmful to the slave, the master, and society in general. Historians have argued over the years about Jefferson’s thoughts and actions regarding slavery, and recent scholarship confirms that within Jefferson, slavery presented ideals that clashed with realities that he struggled with but could not resolve.

In 1780, while the American Revolution was still in progress, Francois Barbe-Marbois, secretary to the French legation in Philadelphia, sent a questionnaire to each of the governors of the former 13 American Colonies. He sought information about individual colonial history, geography, natural resources, and government, to be sent back to France. Jefferson, then governor of Virginia, complied his responses into a book, Notes on the State of Virginia, first published in 1781 and later revised and republished multiple times. The only full-length book Jefferson published during his lifetime, through 23 chapters he explored not only Virginia at that time but also his ideas on the future of Virginia and by extension, the future of America. This excerpt is from the 1784 version, describing what Jefferson thinks about slavery at the time, not what he is practicing.

As you read Jefferson’s text, remember when it was written. Pay special attention to how he uses language to convey his thoughts. Although the term “slave” is used in this lesson to preserve the historical text, most scholars today prefer the term, “enslaved person.”

VOCABULARY Understanding these terms will help you understand the text.

• Commerce
• Perpetual
• Boisterous
• Unremitting
• Despotism
• Degrading
• Temperate
• Perceptible
• Abating
• Mollifying
• Auspices
• Disposed
• Extirpation

TEXT

…There must doubtless be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people produced by the existence of slavery among us. The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other…

…For if a slave can have a country in this world, it must be any other in preference to that in which he is born to live and labor for another; in which he must lock up the faculties of his nature…

…But it is impossible to be temperate and to pursue this subject through the various considerations of policy, of morals, of history natural and civil. We must be contented to hope they will force their way into every one’s mind. I think a change already perceptible, since the origin of the present revolution. The spirit of the master is abating, that of the slave rising from the dust, his condition mollifying, the way I hope preparing, under the auspices of heaven, for a total emancipation, and that this is disposed, in the order of events, to be with the consent of the master, rather than by their extirpation.

INQUIRY

[AS PART OF YOUR RESPONSE, QUOTE FROM THE TEXT WHERE YOU FOUND THE ANSWER]

1. How does the existence of slavery affect the “manners” of Virginia? Why?

2. According to Jefferson, are slaves happy in their condition? How do you know?

3. What does Jefferson mean by “the faculties of his nature”? Why would “locking” up these faculties make slaves wish for another existence?

4. Does Jefferson believe that slavery can be easily discussed? Quote from the text.

5. How does Jefferson believe the existence of slavery will be resolved?

6. When does Jefferson believe the issue of slavery will be resolved?

7. Does Jefferson see the possibility of total emancipation? How might religion be involved? Why might he include this religious reference?

8. What does Jefferson mean by “in the order of events”?

9. Does Jefferson expect masters to cooperate with total emancipation? How do you know?

10. Is it possible to believe one thing but act in conflict with your belief? Why might this happen? Why do you think it happened to Jefferson? Why might it happen to you or someone you know?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Gordon-Reed, Annette, and Peter S. Onuf. “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs”: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination. Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2017.

Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia ; Written in the Year 1781, Somewhat Corrected and Enlarged in the Winter of 1782, for the Use of a Foreigner of Distinction, in Answer to Certain Queries Proposed by Him … 1782. 1784.

Monticello.org