In the time period of George
Washington and the other founding fathers slavery was a common practice in the
United States. Although, we had learn about slavery from history classes, the
thought of the founding fathers owning slaves have never crossed our mind ,
especially when considering the first president and founding father George
Washington. George Washington has been considered many things a leader, hero,
and farmer, but never a slave owner. When studying George Washing and his
connections to slavery, it is clear that the history books have gloss over the
fact that he was a slave owner. Should this be something that the American
people should be embarrassed about? Throughout this paper, I will look at
George Washington’s relationship with his slaves, the role the slaves play in
the Mount Vernon, and his shocking order to have his slaves freed after he died.
Washington
became a slave owner at an early age when he inherited ten slaves, and this
population of slaves only grew when he got older and continue to accumulate
more wealth. (Hirschfeld 11) Similar to other plantations during that time
period, Washington’s slaves were fed, clothed, and housed as inexpensively as
possible. The slaves worked the standard shift from sunrise until sundown
unless they were
sick or injured; they could be punished severely for violations
like running away from the plantation. George Washington treatment of his
slaves has been documented with two opposing accounts. One account that is
noted from his neighbors portrays Washington as a mean slave master who treated
his slaves more harshly than any other slave owner in the surrounding region ("Ten
Facts About Washington and Slavery"). On the other hand, it was noted that
Washington treated his slaves far more compassionately than the other slaves
owner of Virginia ("Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery"). With
these conflicting accounts of Washington treatment of his slaves, it is unclear
if Washington had a good or bad relationship with his slaves, but the fact that
Washington did own slaves and use the same common labor requirements and
punishments as other slave owners showed that his slaves should be only viewed
as property that will serve him and his estate. 
Mount
Vernon consisted of eight thousand acres divided into five farms: Mansion
House, Dogue Run, Union, Muddy Hole, and River. Each individual farm contained
a separate village of both African and Virginia-born slaves (Thompson 1999).
The skilled group of slaves that consisted of cooks, dairy maids, distillers,
gardners, wagon and cart drivers, maids, bricklayers, and butlers resided at
Mansion House (Thonpson 1999). The other four farms consisted of 
For
Washington being a slave owner in the late 1700’s, one of his last request that
he put in his will has to be one of the most peculiar things a slave owner can
do in this time period: he requested his slaves to be freed after his and his
wife’s passing. Washington wrote his will several months before his death in
December 1799 ("Free Slaves in Last Will and Testment"). In the
document, Washington left instructions for the eventual emancipation of his
slaves after the death of his wife. From the 318 slaves at Mount Vernon in
1799, 123 of the slaves were property of George Washington by law and were entitled
to be freed as per the terms of the will ("Ten Facts About Washington and
Slavery"). Additionally, he provided for their education as well as
declaring those old slaves and children without parents be comfortably clothed
and fed by his heirs ("Free Slaves in Last Will and Testment"). Pushing
education for his former slaves when it was very unpopular amongst the masses
sent a strong statement to his countrymen, both current and upcoming. Washington
freeing his slaves can be seen as a humanitarian deed to release his slaves
because they have ultimately served their purpose to Washington and his wife.
The evolution of Washington’s view of his slaves can be catalog from him seeing
the slaves as his property that will help further his tobacco farms and serve
his family, to his last deed that showed he changed his view of his slaves and
eventually saw them as humans and because he is dying and Martha will not too
long after him, they should have the right to live their lives as free people.
George
Washington may have been a product of a time period where owning slaves were
socially acceptable, but that does not mean that this event should be blacked
out from the history of Washington and Mt. Vernon. My opinion of Washington did
not change after researching this topic, but it did open my eyes to the
realization that Washington owned slaves. Washington should still be celebrated
as a leader, hero, and founding father of this country; but when it comes to
farming and the successfulness of the Mt. Vernon estate, his slaves should also
be recognize for their contributions to. In addition, Washington groundbreaking
decision near the time of his death should glorify Washington to a new height
because of his bold resolution to have his slaves freed after his death in
order for them to have the lives Americans should have in a country where they
fought so desperately to attain those values.
References
"Free
Slaves in Last Will and Testment." PBS. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/milestones/free_slaves_about.html>.
Hirschfeld, Fritz. "George Washington and
Slavery." University of Missouri Press. (1992): 11. Print.
Pogue, Dennis J. "The Domestic Architecture Of
Slavery At George Washington's Mount Vernon." Winterthur Portfolio
37.1 (2002): 3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.
"Ten Facts About Washington and Slavery." Mount
Vernon. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec 2013.
<http://www.mountvernon.org/slavery/10facts>.
Thompson, Mary V. “The Lives of Enslaved Workers On George
Washington’s Outlying
Farms.”
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