[Veracious Poet]

Washington received his slaves through inheritance and marriage, bought slaves to keep families together, educated them and provided them with more than local poor white farmers.

Upon his death bequeathed his estate to his slaves and made them free upon Martha's death (legally there was no other way).

Washington always assumed that Blacks would be freed after the Revolution, but because of the fragile nature of the Union of States he let the issue go (Unlike Lincoln, who thought it better 600,000 should die to settle the issue).

As far as Jefferson & Adams, they'd have to explain their position for themselves...I suggest you read about them in-depth like I have Washington. ;-)

[Texasforever]

LMAO. Yep they were one big happty family. Look, here is the bottom line, Washington used slave labor, Jefferson used slave labor and every other major land owner and merchant it is not in dispute. They were kind to their slaves but the pre-civil war economy was fueled by slave labor. You brought up the founders I didn't. You just pick the wrong example to make your case.