Thomas Jefferson – hero or hypocrite?

Bio

• Gov. of VA (1779-1781)• Am. minister to France

(1784-1789)• GW’s Sec. of State

(resigned 1793)• Adams’ VP• Won elections of 1800 &

1804

Hero?

Emphasized equality

• Declaration• Defended Af. Am.s

clients for free

Helped to secure rights

• Author VA Statute for Religious Freedom• Supported BOR• Repealed Whiskey Tax• Allowed Alien & Sedition Acts to expire (1802)

“ Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without 

being lost.”

Attempts to reduce govt debt

• Cut down govt expenses

• Reduced military

“We must not let our rulers load

us with perpetual debt.”

Monticello

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• $15 mil. • Benefits?

Founded UVA (1819)

Hypocrite?

Role of the national government

Barbary War (1801-1805)

• North African pirates attacking U.S. commerce

• Jefferson refused to pay tribute sent small fleet

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• No Pres. power to make land treaties– Loose interpretation of Constitution

“[In accepting the Louisiana Purchase] it is the case of the guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an important adjacent territory; and

saving to him when of age, I did this for your good; I pretend no right to bind you; you may disavow me…I thought it my duty to risk myself to you.”

(1803)

Embargo Act (1807)

• Ship cargo confiscated by GB & France

• Forbid Am. merchant ships to sail to foreign ports

• Backfired (repealed 1809)

Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

Slavery/equality

“…all men are created equal…”

• Owned 200+ slaves (135 inherited)• Few freed upon death

Mulberry Row (slave quarters, service and industrial buildings)

Isaac Jefferson

Dealing with Slavery

• “Nobody wishes more ardently to see an abolition not only of the trade but of the condition of slavery. But…I am here as a public servant; and those whom I serve having not yet been able to give their voice against this practice , it is decent for me to avoid too public a demonstration of my wishes to see it abolished.”

Benjamin Banneker (a free African American farmer and mathematician) writes to Jefferson:

• “…Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind that time in which the arms and tyranny of the British crown were exerted…to reduce you to a state of servitude…This was a time when you clearly saw the injustice of a state of slavery and…that you publicly held forth this true and invaluable doctrine…‘that all men are created equal’…but how pitiable is it to reflect that…in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression that you should at this time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested of others…”

Sally Hemings• Child of Betty Hemings and John Wayles • Resemblance to Martha Jefferson?

Debt

• Hated debt but had large personal debt

• At death owed $107,000 ($2 mil. today)

Thomas Jefferson – hero or hypocrite?

Debate!

• Inaugural address - “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”

• Why did he contradict his beliefs?

• Jefferson as “an imperfect man with a perfect idea”?