Thomas Jefferson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Thomas Jefferson - Essay Example In fact, the same historical figure who penned the words â€Å"all men were created equal† owned 200 slaves and more importantly violated his republican political philosophy during his presidency. There have been varied views on the question of the contradictions seen in the greatest of the American Fathers. However, one most justified position to hold would be to see Jefferson taking a part in the American trait of being in conflict rather than perceiving him as a marked contradicting figure. Such a position is partly on the basis of the contradictory views and conclusions on the contradiction of Jefferson, the one time political giant of our Nation and partly on the awareness of American trait of conflicts. Thus, it is of pertinent value to comprehend the interpretations of the historians who consider Jefferson as a person of contradictions. According to Christopher Hitchens who writes of how historians view Jefferson, â€Å"it would be lazy or obvious to say that he contained contradictions or paradoxes. This is true of everybody, and of everything. It would be infinitely more surprising to strike upon a historic figure, or indeed a nation, that was not subject to this law. Jefferson did not embody contradiction. Jefferson was a contradiction, and this will be found at every step of the narrative that goes to make up his life. (Hitchens, 2008). It has ever been remarked that Jefferson was in two minds about slavery throughout his career which can be seen as evidence for his conflicts. On the one hand, as a young politician, he held his views for the prohibition of slavery in new American territories and, on the other, he never freed his own slaves which made him a contradiction in hi mself. The significant question ever have been â€Å"How could a man responsible for writing the sacred words "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal" have been a slave owner? He never resolved his internal