Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence (April 17, 1743)
Thomas Jefferson, born April 17, 1743, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence first because he was a Virginian and second for his writing skill. Virginia was the most populous colony, but precipitating revolution events like Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, the siege of Boston, and the capture of Fort Ticonderoga happened up North. Virginia would cement an alliance by bringing Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia with it.
Jefferson was well satisfied with his writing but suffered a painful ordeal as the Continental Congress remade his work. His draft at 1704 words was 366 words longer than the final. The Congress proceeded to add 253 words, and remove or change the phrasing for 792 words, thereby transforming over 60% of his work. Among passages removed was a section complaining the mercantile system, imposed on the colonies by commercial charter, mandated the importation of slaves to the New World.
Britain had forbidden the colony’s two attempts to abolish slavery, but between the start of the revolution and writing of the Constitution six of thirteen colonies freed slaves. The philosophical doctrines consulted for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution placed master and slave on the same plain of existence, and thereby doomed the institution of slavery.
Decisions to denigrate Thomas Jefferson in historical accounts examples contra-factual analysis supporting newly popular morality. We remember Martin Luther King for achievements as a civil rights leader, and not for adultery. Recognizing Jefferson commemorates his writing the Declaration of Independence, and not slave ownership.
Declaration of Independence: A Transcription (1333 words)
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
Jefferson's "original Rough draught" of the Declaration of Independence (1704 words)
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/ruffdrft.html
British prohibit abolition of Slavery
https://books.google.com/books?id=VqVzeHFaa1QC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=%22slave+trade%22+virginia+%22privy+council%22&source=bl&ots=KHnj2vqxY5&sig=14kubMg1qCFRlTvKLSy4KaaQW5Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg0O7MktTaAhUOEqwKHecgAKs4ChDoAQg3MAU#v=onepage&q=%22slave%20trade%22%20virginia%20%22privy%20council%22&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=VqVzeHFaa1QC&pg=PA131&lpg=PA131&dq=%22Virginia%27s+assembly+intended+to+prohibit+absolutely+the+slave+trade%22&source=bl&ots=KHtn4vrw53&sig=ACfU3U2KtJ7zBW7UvBdAiDKcSZdZS9_JrA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjryd310aDpAhVEPawKHQq-CzMQ6AEwAHoECAEQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Virginia's%20assembly%20intended%20to%20prohibit%20absolutely%20the%20slave%20trade%22&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=VqVzeHFaa1QC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=remove+all+Restraints+on+your+Majesty%27s+Governors+of+this+Colony,+which+inhibit+their+assenting+to+such+laws+as+might+check+so+very+pernicious+a+Commerce&source=bl&ots=KHtn4vrAY5&sig=ACfU3U01RHw9Q-T8NgyY1rvOP91TiYigDg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3gMKK06DpAhUmnq0KHfnMA_MQ6AEwBnoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=remove%20all%20Restraints%20on%20your%20Majesty's%20Governors%20of%20this%20Colony%2C%20which%20inhibit%20their%20assenting%20to%20such%20laws%20as%20might%20check%20so%20very%20pernicious%20a%20Commerce&f=false
The Virginia Slavery Debate of 1831-1832
https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Virginia_Slavery_Debate_of_1831-1832_The
Timeline of abolition of slavery and serfdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_abolition_of_slavery_and_serfdom#1701–1799_(Late_Modern)
13 Colonies Population (1710 - 1770)
http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/thirteen-colonies/
“The philosophical doctrines consulted for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution placed master and slave on the same plain of existence . . .”
That is an interesting comment.
Is that why the document is known as the Declaration of Equality?
“The philosophical doctrines consulted for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution placed master and slave on the same plain of existence . . .”
That is an interesting comment.
When Jefferson wrote about “merciless Indian Savages” was that too for the purpose of placing native Americans on the same “plain” of existence?
The reason I ask: I don’t think Jefferson was advocating making college presidents, electors, or jurists of native Americans when he wrote the DOI.
I would be surprised if you can find primary sources to argue he was.