In Jefferson's lifetime, he freed two slaves who were members of the Hemings family. .
In 1776, Jefferson was chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence. He later left Congress and returned to Virginia and served in the legislature. He was elected governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. Later in 1784, he went to France and became minister. When Jefferson went to France, it was thought that this was the first time that Jefferson was seen with Sally Hemings when she accompanied both of his daughters to France. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson became president of the United States. Later in his life, he founded the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was a man of dignity and grace and to some people the idea that he had sexual relations with Sally Hemings would ruin his image of a great man. .
Being a southern gentleman and an owner of slaves, the idea that Thomas Jefferson had an affair with Sally Hemings could not be true. To believe that a master and a slave could never have any relations, would be very nave and ignorant. A lot of mixing went on during that time period between a master and a slave. Many southern "gentlemen- of that time did have affairs with their young slave women on plantations. Because people believe that blacks were less intelligent, smelled, and were less good looking, black people and white people should not mix, but they did, so you cannot get around the idea that this never happened.
Another factor that lead people to believe that this could never happen is that Jefferson was racist. On contrary to people's beliefs, Jefferson was not racist. He treated his slaves very well and provided them with proper shelter and food, unlike many masters at the time. He gave all of his slaves respect and treated them as human beings rather than property. Still, slavery was wrong. Nevertheless, Jefferson was very sympathetic and loyal to his slaves, and that is why the majority of his slaves did not run away.
