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Equality of Women in the Eyes of Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson is considered as one of the greatest Presidents of United States who valued freedom and equality. It cannot be denied the fact that in Colonial America all people did not enjoy equal freedom. For example, African slaves were considered as the property of their masters. The conditions of the colonial women were not so enviable. Jefferson had some solid views regarding the idea of equality. He was deeply impressed by the writings of enlightened thinkers of the period like John Locke. In his statement to Cartwright, he said "Nothing... is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man." On another occasion, he said, "It is a civilization alone which replaces women in the enjoyment of natural equality. That first teaches us to subdue selfish passions and to respect those rights in others, which we value in ourselves." In a deleted passage by the continental congress, Jefferson expresses his displeasure against the king for the violation of certain sacred rights of life and liberties to blacks. He said that King waged a cruel war against the human nature and people. The opinion of Jefferson shows that he had invaluable respect for men and women. Many people argue against the above notion of Jefferson. We cannot deny the fact that the ideas of liberty of the founding fathers later led to the freedom of slaves and voting rights of women

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This solution elaborates the views of Thomas Jefferson regarding the equality of colonial women. In many occasions, Jefferson openly declares about the equality of men and women. The open references of Thomas Jefferson clearly shows that he had great respect for equality of women.

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Thomas Jefferson is considered as one of the greatest Presidents of United States who valued freedom and equality. It cannot be denied the fact that in Colonial America all people did not enjoy equal freedom. For example, African slaves were considered as the property of their masters. The conditions of the colonial women were not so ...

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