Andrew Jackson: The reports of my death on the $20 bill are greatly exaggerated

[rjmacs]

Onamuji wrote:
[quote=rjmacs]
Let's be absolutely clear about Jefferson. He freed seven slaves upon his death. The other 130 were sold at auction.

Freed a few before his death. Let a bunch "run away" (possibly his children) without sending anyone after them.

Not saying the guy was perfect. Just saying he made an effort.
He made "an" effort. He freed two slaves during his lifetime. He freed five in his will. Three others were allowed to escape without being pursued.

The effort was weak and left a huge stain on his legacy.

[Onamuji]

rjmacs wrote:
[quote=Onamuji]
[quote=rjmacs]
Let's be absolutely clear about Jefferson. He freed seven slaves upon his death. The other 130 were sold at auction.

Freed a few before his death. Let a bunch "run away" (possibly his children) without sending anyone after them.

Not saying the guy was perfect. Just saying he made an effort.
He made "an" effort. He freed two slaves during his lifetime. He freed five in his will. Three others were allowed to escape without being pursued.

The effort was weak and left a huge stain on his legacy.
Roughly true, as far as his personal life goes.

...But then there is also his public campaign to outlaw slavery throughout America and successful legislation outlawing the import of slaves.

Seems that he grew disheartened and concerned that much more pressure would lead to secession or race wars (Haiti had a nasty revolution in his time), so he didn't do as much later in life, but the guy made some darned good progress, all things considered.

...And more to the point, he did waaaaaaaay more than Jackson.

[rjmacs]

Onamuji wrote:
[quote=rjmacs]
[quote=Onamuji]
[quote=rjmacs]
Let's be absolutely clear about Jefferson. He freed seven slaves upon his death. The other 130 were sold at auction.

Freed a few before his death. Let a bunch "run away" (possibly his children) without sending anyone after them.

Not saying the guy was perfect. Just saying he made an effort.
He made "an" effort. He freed two slaves during his lifetime. He freed five in his will. Three others were allowed to escape without being pursued.

The effort was weak and left a huge stain on his legacy.
Roughly true, as far as his personal life goes.

...But then there is also his public campaign to outlaw slavery throughout America and successful legislation outlawing the import of slaves.

Seems that he grew disheartened and concerned that much more pressure would lead to secession or race wars (Haiti had a nasty revolution in his time), so he didn't do as much later in life, but the guy made some darned good progress, all things considered.

...And more to the point, he did waaaaaaaay more than Jackson.
Haiti had a popular revolution in which slaveowners were killed. That terrified slaveowners.

He did nothing substantial to outlaw slavery in slave states (certainly not his own).

He did agree to end the transatlantic slave trade, long after it was economically irrelevant because American slaveowners were successfully "breeding their own."

Did he do more than Jackson? Yes, especially with his words. But his sins far outweigh his good deeds.

[Onamuji]

rjmacs wrote:
He did nothing substantial to outlaw slavery in slave states (certainly not his own).

Per the Wikipedia...

In the Congress's 1783–84 session, Jefferson acted as chairman of committees to establish a viable system of government for the new Republic and propose a policy for the settlement of the western territories... Congress made extensive revisions, including rejection of the ban of slavery. The provisions banning slavery, known later as the 'Jefferson Proviso', were modified and implemented three years later in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and became the law for the entire Northwest.

Jefferson felt slavery was harmful to both slave and master, but had reservations about releasing unprepared slaves into freedom and advocated gradual emancipation. In 1779, he proposed gradual voluntary training and resettlement to the Virginia legislature, and three years later drafted legislation allowing owners to free their own slaves.

In his draft of the Declaration of Independence, he included a section, stricken by other Southern delegates, criticizing King George III's role in promoting slavery in the colonies.

In 1800 Jefferson proposed the abolition of slavery in all western U.S. territories, limiting slave importation to 15 years. Congress, however, failed to pass his proposal by one vote.

In 1804, in a compromise on the slavery issue, Jefferson and Congress banned domestic slave trafficking for one year into the Louisiana Territory.

In 1806 he officially called for anti-slavery legislation terminating the import or export of slaves. Congress passed the law in 1807, taking effect in 1818.

The violent attacks on white slave owners during the Haitian Revolution due to injustices under slavery supported Jefferson’s fears of a race war, increasing his reservations about promoting emancipation at that time. After numerous attempts and failures to bring about emancipation, Jefferson wrote privately in an 1805 letter to William A. Burwell, “I have long since given up the expectation of any early provision for the extinguishment of slavery among us. That same year he also related this idea to George Logan, writing, "I have most carefully avoided every public act or manifestation on that subject."

...

Poor guy.

Waffled a bit and lost his gusto, but at least he tried.