Question

In his letter to Edward Coles, what did Jefferson suggest should be done about the slaves

in America?
They should be freed immediately.
They should be repatriated to Africa immediately, unless they voluntarily chose to stay in
America to work for wages.
O Gradual manumission, to help them learn to support themselves, then repatriation to Africa.
They should remain slaves, because even though slavery was unjust, he believed they were
incapable of ever being able to take care of themselves.

Answer 1

In his letter to Edward Coles, Thomas Jefferson suggested a plan of gradual manumission, followed by repatriation of slaves to Africa.

Step-by-step explanation:

In his letter to Edward Coles, Thomas Jefferson suggested a plan of gradual manumission, followed by repatriation of slaves to Africa.

Jefferson believed that immediate emancipation would be too disruptive for society and that African Americans lacked the necessary skills to support themselves in a free society. His plan involved providing education and training to slaves, gradually freeing them over time, and then offering them the choice to remain in America as wage laborers or to return to Africa if they preferred.

This plan was influenced by Jefferson's belief in the inferiority of African Americans and his concern about potential social upheaval.

Learn more about Thomas Jefferson's plan for slaves in America