Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson Marriage

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Interracial relationships were a very controversial idea in the American society when slavery began. If one were to have an interracial relationship it would be kept in the dark from society or a consequence was paid. The link between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson was Martha Wayles Jefferson. John Wayles was the father of both Martha Wayles and Sally Hemings, making them half-sisters. Martha Wayles also married Thomas Jefferson. “After the death of John Wayles and Martha Wayles, Thomas Jefferson inherited the ownership Hemings family and moved them to Monticello. This was the permanent living arrangement for the Hemings” (Sally Hemings’s Parisian Affair, Kelly Wilkens). This is where Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings relationship began. “Some speculate that due to their kinship, Hemings and Martha Jefferson may have looked very similar which could have been a key factor in Jefferson’s attraction to Sally Hemings” (Wilkens). Since there is no factual evidence in writing from either Thomas Jefferson or Sally Hemings, many people relied on other family members writings and used assumptions to draw conclusions about their relationship. Til this day, many people still have inconclusive evidence about their relationship and why it lasted a long time. Sally made the decision to continue a long term relationship with Thomas Jefferson, after a heavy evaluation of her options, her conditions and the little empowerment she had over Thomas Jefferson.

II. Brief Biography of Sally Hemings And Thomas Jefferson
Sally Hemings, daughter of Elizabeth Hemings, was born in 1773 and was a considered a mulatto growing up. A mulatto was a common term used during slavery when an African American slave and white person create a relations...

... middle of paper ...

...ason why she had leverage over Thomas Jefferson to make sure she was living a good enslaved life so that she can see their children grow up and be freed. It is possible that Sally could use her illegitimate relationship to put a turmoil in Jefferson’s career. No writing proves that, but it was a possibility. Sally was considered a “pampered” slave, but she got what she wanted for her children. Thomas Jefferson was very lenient with Sally because of the children.

Works Cited

http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/physical-descriptions-jefferson#_note-0

http://millercenter.org/president/jefferson/essays/biography/print

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson

http://books.wwnorton.com/books/978-0-393-06477-3/

https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=1659

http://uramericansinparis.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/sally-hemings-parisian-affair/

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