Thomas Jefferson: Inconsistent Values

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stated a belief of most educated Americans. These words were written at a time when the expansion of slavery in this country was at its greatest. It was a time when Native Americans represented a real danger to lives, property and future plans for westward expansion. These words were written by a man who was a Virginia planter, politician, scientist and a humanitarian. His views on the issues of race, therefore, were complex. The humanitarian demanded freedom for the Negro (Negro and Black are the terms used throughout this paper as opposed to African-American due to the usage of these terms during the eighteenth century) as a human being, and because the master's ownership of slaves was morally wrong. It demanded the Indians be allowed to exist in this country undisturbed. The planter saw the Negro as an important labor unit. The politician saw the Negro as a threat in the form of rebellion and to those who wished to use him as a political advantage. He also saw Indian removal as the only alternative to extermination. There was the scientist in Thomas Jefferson as well. He expressed doubts about the Negro's capacities and fears of racial amalgamation, while attempting to determine Indian origins. How could Thomas Jefferson reflect the Revolutionary and Enlightenment ideals of his time and remain one of Virginia's largest slaveholders? How could he still threaten the Native Americans with war or removal? How did Thomas Jefferson's thoughts and actions on race reflect eighteenth century American thought?Master of ArtsLiberal StudiesUniversity of Michigan-Flinthttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143273/1/Tippen.pd