Five Founders on Slavery
George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison on Slavery
None of the leading Founders ever declared slavery to be a just or beneficial institution. In fact, they hoped to see the slave trade eradicated, and eventually the entire institution of slavery made illegal.
George Washington
Letter to Robert Morris 1
April 12, 1786
"...[T]here is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it...."
John Adams
Letter to Robert J. Evans 2
June 8, 1819
"...Every measure of prudence, therefore, ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States.... I have, through my whole life ...