George Washington's Views on Slavery
In his writings, George Washington felt very strongly that slavery was an
institution that needed to be eliminated from American society. However, there were
several circumstances that arose following the American Revolution that would prevent
Washington from actively pursuing the elimination of slavery during his lifetime. It is
certainly plausible that George Washington's personal economic short-comings,
forefront in the setting of conflicting political agendas and the nation's revolutionary
climate, prevented this founding father from actively pursuing the nationwide
emancipation of slaves.
Prior and during the American Revolution, little was written by Washington on
his feelings about slavery. In the last year of the war and thereafter, more attention was spent by Washington on the issue of slavery. On February 5, 1783, Washington received
a letter from Marquis de Lafayette, whom Washington considered both a friend and a
son, that stated, "Let us unite in purchasing a small estate, where we may try the
experiment to free the negroes, and use them only as tenants. Such an example as yours
might render it a general practice..." (Sparks v.3, p.547). It is doubtful that Lafayette
would have proposed this idea unless he knew that Washington had strong views on
seeing the elimination of slavery. Washington wrote back to Lafayette on April 5, "The
scheme... to encourage the emancipation of the black people of this Country from that
state of Bondage in which. they are held, is a striking evidence of the benevolence of
your Heart. I shall be happy to join you is so laudable a work..." (Fitzpatrick v.26, p.300).
Unfortunately, Washington was still in cha...
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...nian in the late 18th century, Washington was truly enlightened on his views of slavery. It is unfortunate that more Southern Americans did not follow Washington's lead, for this issue of slavery would cost us many American lives in another sixty years, and would almost destroy the nation that George Washington had worked so hard at building.
Works Cited
Carroll, J.A., and M.W. Ashworth. George Washington: A Biography. Vol. 7.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1957. 7 vols.
Fitzpatrick, John C., ed. The Writings of George Washington. 39 vols.
Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1933.
Freeman, Douglass S. George Washington: A Biography. Vol. 6. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1955. 7 vols.
Sparks, Jared. Correspondence of the American Revolution, Letters to
Washington. 4 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1853.
...pate in a society because of race and gender. While the Disquisition of Government, is seen as a great work in American politics, his views, political theory and ideology are off base to certain segments of the American population, and his thoughts would help to maintain slavery.
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In his speech, Frederick Douglass made it clear that he believed that the continued toleration and support of slavery from both a religious and legal standpoint was utterly absurd when considering the ideals and principles advocated by America’s forefathers. He began by praising the American framers of the Constitution, an...
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