US Presidents Who Owned Slaves or Were Descended from Slave Owners

The United States has a complex and often troubling history when it comes to the institution of slavery, and many of its former presidents are not exempt from that history. From the Founding Fathers to modern times, several presidents have ties to slavery, either through direct ownership or through descent from slave owners.

Direct Slavery Ownership

Among the more well-known US presidents who owned slaves, several names stand out:

George Washington: Washington personally owned slaves, and records indicate he had relatively large plantations in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson: America's third president not only owned slaves but also actively participated in the slave trade. He famously wrote about the evils of slavery while personally engaging in its practices. James Madison: His estate in Virginia, Montpelier, housed multiple slaves, demonstrating his involvement with the institution. James Monroe: Monroe's father had a-sizeable plantation, and Monroe himself owned slaves and leased them out to others. Andrew Jackson: The seventh president had slaves who worked on his Tennessee plantations, and he famously re-established slavery in Florida after it was recaptured from the British. William Henry Harrison: His personal secretary was a man named James Freeman, who was enslaved. Additionally, Harrison owned slaves in his Indiana plantation. John Tyler: Tyler's ancestors owned slaves, and he himself owned several slaves before and during his presidency. Zachary Taylor: Taylor owned numerous slaves, and one of his offspring, Margaret Taylor Drexel, was a direct descendant of a slave. James K. Polk: Polk owned slaves throughout his life and held several plantations in Tennessee. Millard Fillmore: Fillmore's father-in-law was a slave owner, and the president himself owned slaves in upstate New York. Franklin Pierce: Pierce's father owned slaves, and he himself owned slaves throughout his life. James Buchanan: Buchanan's election campaign was funded by slave owners. He owned slaves for most of his life, even after marrying into a free family. Andrew Johnson: Johnson appears to have owned slaves during his early years before his presidency, freeing them shortly before taking office. His ancestry also involved slave owners. Ulysses S. Grant: Grant owned slaves before his presidency, though he freed them by the time he was elected. Benjamin Harrison: Harrison's grandfather was a slave owner. Despite his own efforts to distance himself, he was still connected to slavery through family lineage. Harry S. Truman: Truman's great-great-grandfather owned slaves. Joe Biden: Both Biden's maternal and paternal lines have connections to slave ownership.

Descended from Slave Owners

Several presidents had ancestors who were involved in slavery, making the legacy of the institution more pervasive:

Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln's great-great-great-grandfather, Elmo Lincoln, owned a slave named Constance McKenzie. Jimmy Carter: Carter's family owned between 250 to 500 slaves on a 9,000-acre plantation and were strong supporters of the Confederacy. Kamala Harris: Harris is a descendant of slave owners as well as slaves, adding an interesting historical perspective to her political career. many other presidents have descended from slave owners, emphasizing the widespread nature of this historical link.

Why Does It Matter?

The legacy of slavery in the United States is a significant part of its history and touches on many aspects of American life, including politics and society. Understanding this historical context is crucial for evaluating the role of these presidents and the policies they implemented.

While owning slaves may have been a common practice during the 18th and 19th centuries, it was not morally or ethically justifiable. Furthermore, the social and political norms of the time must be considered when examining the context of their actions.

It is worth noting that the question of whether presidents who owned slaves should be celebrated or condemned is a matter of historical interpretation and can vary based on individual perspectives. However, for the sake of an objective understanding, it is important to acknowledge and discuss these connections.

The current political climate in the United States highlights the continued impact of historical events, and the relationship between modern politicians and slavery remains a relevant topic of discussion.