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Can Our Founding Fathers Be Compared with Modern Morality When the United States Constitution was written - it was a white male property owner's world. The constitution was written with them in mind but a century later expanded to free to free the slaves and give black men the right to vote. It would take another 50 years to grant women the vote regardless of color. Thomas Jefferson was a product of the political, economic and cultural mindset of his times. Black folks were property and women were chattel. The story is that when Martha Jefferson died from childbirth after her 11th - he promised her not to remarry. He honored that promise but still wanted sensual gratification without the risk of transmitted ailments. The solution was to utilize one of his servants. This was a practice that carried over from Old Biblical times when the Patriarchs and Kings took on concubines. Sally Hemming was the half sister of Martha Jefferson. She was 2/3's white but nevertheless property because of the status of her mother and chattel because of her gender. The story passed down from her family is that Sally was in France and could have petitioned to stay in France as a free woman. She agreed to return with his promise that their future would be freed This is a situation that would not be morally or legally permitted by modern standards but does it really undermine the accomplishments listed on Jefferson's headstone. "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia.". The accomplishments have expanded to include the right for anyone to attend the University of Virginia regardless of race or gender and worship as they please.  Abracadabra  |
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 Abracadabra
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It is ironic that only two of Martha Jefferson's Children survived to adulthood and his youngest daughter also died from childbirth. Sally had six children and four survived. Abracadabra
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