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struggle4progress

(118,379 posts)

15. Jefferson's abstract principles conflicted with his real material interests: his political status

Reply to Hoyt (Reply #1)

Mon Sep 6, 2021, 08:57 PM

Sep 2021

in Virginia depended on his wealth and his acceptability to other slave-holders

Under such circumstances, many people choose "realism" over "conscience"

The net effect of such choices over an entire society explains why change is so slow

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Like Washington and Jefferson, he championed liberty. Unlike the founders, he freed his slaves [View all] FM123 Sep 2021 OP

Have never been able to reconcile Jefferson speaking of freedom and liberty, going home to rape and Hoyt Sep 2021 #1

Most likely because the slaves were not regarded as human but were thought of and treated as animals SunnyATT Sep 2021 #6

IMHO, Jefferson believed himself a sort of "philosopher-king" Retrograde Sep 2021 #8

I am not a fan of Jefferson. He and my man Hamilton hated each other. Scrivener7 Sep 2021 #9

I pick Jefferson over Hamilton rockfordfile Sep 2021 #12

no, no they do not Celerity Sep 2021 #13

That's just crushingly dumb. Scrivener7 Sep 2021 #16

Jefferson's abstract principles conflicted with his real material interests: his political status struggle4progress Sep 2021 #15

This was a really interesting story, I'd never heard of Carter before. Luciferous Sep 2021 #2

This is probably why. 2naSalit Sep 2021 #4

Exactly. Solomon Sep 2021 #7

Huh. Yes, you're probably right. Scrivener7 Sep 2021 #10

Neither had I. crickets Sep 2021 #11

his grandfather was Robert "King" Carter, right? Chili Sep 2021 #3

yes, and ironically Robert E. Lee was one of his relatives in the future. Celerity Sep 2021 #14

K & R for visibility malaise Sep 2021 #5

Animals. moondust Sep 2021 #17

Fascinating. Going to look up the book! Hekate Sep 2021 #18