Thomas Jefferson is considered one of the most active fighters for human freedom, regardless of race or gender. Therefore, his view on the concept of law is highly significant in world political thought (Taylor, 2019). The radicality of his ideas has caused a lot of controversies, but they have found their application in almost all countries. Along with other thinkers, Jefferson showed all humankind the importance of respecting the rights of the individual (Filler, 2018). Although few people supported Jefferson’s ideas about the abolition of slavery at a specific time, he became one of the most famous fighters for equal and fair treatment of black people.
For Jefferson, the problem of slavery was acute, and the slave system contradicted all the rights that he so earnestly defended (Araujo, 2020). Jefferson actively fought for the freedom of the black population, trying in every way to improve their position and share in participation in the political life of the country (Baker, 2019). For the first time, he made an attempt to abolish slavery when drafting the text of the declaration of independence, but then his ideas were not supported by most of his associates (Bickford & Hendrickson, 2020). In a later work, Jefferson stated that slavery spoils not only the enslaved people themselves but also those who own them, fostering antisocial attitudes and laziness, which was alien to him.
In conclusion, Thomas Jefferson was a steadfast defender of human rights, but most importantly, he fought for the rights of black people. Jefferson took an active part in the liberation of black people from slavery and the unequal treatment of the black population. He managed to convince the government that the slave system should be eradicated and all people should be given equal rights to life.
References
Araujo, A. L. (2020). Slavery in the age of memory: Engaging the past. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Baker, C. R. (2019). What can Thomas Jefferson’s accounting records tell us about plantation management, slavery, and Enlightenment philosophy in colonial America?Accounting History, 24(2), 236-252. Web.
Bickford, J. H., & Hendrickson, R. C. (2020). An inquiry into liberty, slavery, and Thomas Jefferson’s place in American memory. The Social Studies, 111(1), 1-10. Web.
Filler, L. (2018). Slavery in the United States. Routledge.
Taylor, A. (2019). Thomas Jefferson’s Education. WW Norton & Company.