A Solution? Jefferson Proposes Gradual Emancipation
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Throughout his life, Jefferson privately endorsed a plan of gradual emancipation, by which all people born into slavery after a certain date would be freed and sent beyond the borders of the United States when they reached adulthood.
He published a short description of this plan in his book Notes on the State of Virginia.
If Jefferson had publicly endorsed emancipation and had emancipated his slaves, one might believe that he opposed slavery. When it came time to put his money where his mouth was, he didn't do anything that didn't benefit himself with regard to slavery