Although Thomas Jefferson publicly and privately expressed his disagreement with the practice of slavery, how he really felt is open to debate. Theoretically, Thomas Jefferson was open to the abolishment of slavery, yet through his actions he communicated the exact opposite. Dumas Malone and William Cohen express this discrepancy extensively.
Dumas Malone emphasizes the contradiction that Jefferson observed in human nature and in his native society. Thomas Jefferson was one of the first people to propose a plan on emancipation. He devised this plan while revising the Virginia laws during the American Revolution. His plan called for the freeing of all slaves born after a specific date. Thomas Jefferson did not believe that blacks and whites would be able to coexist because of deeply-rooted racist beliefs. Because of this belief Jefferson followed a policy of non-involvement in both local and state affairs during his term as president. Jefferson knew that his intervention......
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Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |