James Madison
Born: March 16, 1751
Died: June 28, 1836
Known for: Being the 4th POTUS, writing the Bill of Rights, writing some of the articles in the Federalist Papers, losing the War of 1812.
James Madison too, was a slave owner, though apparently a reluctant one. He owned over 100 humans over the course of his life, many of whom he hired out as paid(to him, of course) labor. According to this, he was a rather average slaveowner who treated his enslaved people relatively well, all things considered. He and his wife Dolly apparently really disliked the idea of slavery, but not enough to actually do anything about it. And not enough to free them when he had a chance to. You know what we call a reluctant, remorseful slaveowner? A slaveowner. It doesn't matter how he felt, it matters what he did not do about it.
Here are more sources on the life and times of James Madison:
This is from the James Madison museum.
Here is the Virginia State encyclopedia.
Now also known for hating on Alex Ham because he kept arguing that slavery needed to go away during the continental congress and cabinet meetings...
ReplyDeleteI'm just so sick of these people who claimed to hate and be disgusted by slavery, but then did nothing to not participate in it or stop it on a legal level. These people literally invented a nation and set up the laws for it. To cry about it being too hard because it was illegal to free slaves but then not actually change the laws when they started this country is just an excuse. I don't buy it. They knew it was wrong, but they chose to participate in it, profit from it, and ensure that it continued. They don't get excused for it anymore. Not be me, at least!
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