Jefferson was born to a important family of Virginia tobacco growers. Plantation life is based largely around the work of slaves, so Jefferson was surrounded by them from the time when he was born in 1743 until the day he died. One of the harshest criticisms of Jefferson comes from the fact that, while he vehemently opposed slavery, was indeed a slave owner himself. Wilson also argues that Jefferson knew that his slaves would be

better off working for him than freed in a world where they would be treated

with contempt and not given any real freedoms.

Given Jefferson's contributions to American society, it is almost impossible to find him to be morally weak and coarse. Those who do are presentists, cynics, and nay-sayers who are simply looking for a way to criticize one of the greatest Americans who has ever lived.

considered degradation and abuse like it is today. In fact, his relationship with Hemings could actually be considered to be a positive thing for him on two fronts: Since she was 52 when he died, Jefferson obviously did not desire her solely on a physical basis; also, he promised his wife when she died that he would not remarry. He fulfilled his promise only because he found a woman to love whom he was not expected, indeed not allowed, to marry. This is a weak front on which to criticize Jefferson.

contemporary of such philosophical greats as Voltaire and Mill, he did what he did because it was what needed to happen -- not in any way, shape, or form because he wanted to be remembered as a demigod, a status he actually had anyw

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