It comes as a shock to most Americans’ sensibilities that more than one in four U.S. presidents were slaveholders: 12 owned slaves at some point in their lives. Significantly, 8 presidents owned slaves while living in the Executive Mansion. Put another way, for 50 of the first 60 years of the new republic, the president was a slaveholder.To be sure, the above offends today's sensibilities. It was a commonplace at the time. A former slaveholder - Grant - won the Civil War for the Union.
Following is the number of slaves each of the 12 slaveholding presidents owned. (CAPS indicate the president owned slaves while serving as the chief executive):
- GEORGE WASHINGTON (between 250-350 slaves)
- THOMAS JEFFERSON (about 200)
- JAMES MADISON (more than 100)
- JAMES MONROE (about 75)
- ANDREW JACKSON (fewer than 200)
- Martin Van Buren (one)
- William Henry Harrison (eleven)
- JOHN TYLER (about 70)
- JAMES POLK (about 25)
- ZACHARY TAYLOR (fewer than 150)
- Andrew Johnson (probably eight)
- Ulysses S. Grant (probably five)
If we are to stop honoring slaveholders, shall we change the name of the nation's capital? Of the state north of Oregon? Tear down the Washington and Jefferson monuments? Rename countless cities, counties, parks, and streets? Rewrite the history books to demonize these men? Redesign our money? Take the nickel, dime, quarter and most folding money out of circulation? I'm sure there are more than a few who would answer "yes" to all of the above.
Every president before Truman was complicit in a segregated U.S. military. Every president before Eisenhower was complicit in segregated schools.
It is our history, true. It is also our history that we overcame all of that. How much national self-hate is ever enough to satisfy? Answer: no amount, however large, will suffice for some; they luxuriate in their anger.
