Jefferson's Attitudes Toward Slavery
Thomas Jefferson called slavery a “moral depravity” and a “hideous blot,” but continued to hold human beings as property his entire adult life.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal,” and yet enslaved more than 600 people over the course of his life.
The Practice of Slavery at Monticello
Although he made some legislative attempts against slavery and at times bemoaned its existence, Jefferson also profited directly from the institution of slavery.
The Business of Slavery at Monticello
Jefferson profited not just by the crops and products produced by his enslaved laborers but also from the value of the slaves themselves.
Online Exhibition - Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty
How could the author of the Declaration of the Independence own slaves? How could twenty percent of the population of the new United States, founded on the principles of liberty and equality, live in bondage? What was life like for enslaved people in the early republic?
Videos about Slavery at Monticello
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"Some visitors think we're trying to knock Jefferson off his pedestal" - A Guide's Perspective
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"Picturing Mulberry Row" - A short video about Monticello's main plantation street
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Overseers and Violence at Monticello