We have the wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go.
Justice is in one scale, and self preservation in the other.
The institution of slavery has played a defining role in American history. Beginning in the early 17th century, when black slaves began to complement the ranks of white indentured servants, slavery became critical to the nation s economy, increasingly dominated its politics, and eventually led to an atrociously bloody civil war. Following the war, the legacy of slavery has continued to reverberate through American history, from postwar Reconstruction conflicts through the civil rights movements of the 20th century and on to the recent DNA testing that has fueled the ongoing reevaluation of aspects of the life of Thomas Jefferson. Over the course of four days the 2000 Jefferson Symposium will provide a unique opportunity for you to join a superb faculty in examining a topic that is more commonly avoided than carefully thought about. This year s symposium will take an in-depth look at the complex issue of slavery and how it resonated through the life of Thomas Jefferson, his families, and the life of a new republic.