Thomas Jefferson, born April 17, 1743, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence first because he was a Virginian and second for his writing skill. Virginia was the most populous colony, but precipitating revolution events like Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, siege of Boston and capture of Fort Ticonderoga happened up north. Virginia would cement an alliance by bringing Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia with it.

When Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence he suffered painfully as Congress remade his work. His draft at 1,704 words was 366 words longer than the final. Congress added 253 words, and removed or rephrased 792 words, thereby transforming over 60% of his work. Among passages removed was a section complaining the mercantile system, imposed on the colonies by commercial charter, mandated the importation of slaves to the New World.

Britain had forbidden the colony’s two attempts to abolish slavery, but between the start of the revolution and writing of the Constitution, six of 13 colonies freed slaves. The philosophical doctrines consulted for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution placed master and slave on the same plain of existence and thereby doomed the institution of slavery.

Decisions to denigrate Thomas Jefferson in historical accounts examples contra-factual analysis supporting newly popular morality. We remember Martin Luther King Jr. for his achievements as a civil rights leader, and not for adultery. Recognizing Jefferson commemorates his writing the Declaration of Independence and not slave ownership.

Nolan Nelson

Redmond