2006-10-25 11:49:03 · 3 answers · asked by Deborah 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
The same reason that other people like to trace their family history. Most historical facts show the the Hemings are descendants of Thomas Jefferson.
Check out this site:http://en.wikipedia.org Sally Hemings
2006-10-25 12:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by irish_yankee51 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thomas Jefferson, who was a Virginia plantation owner in a society of plantation owners, lost his wife while he was fairly young. The mixed race slave who ran his house, Sally Heming, was probably half-sister to his wife, and likely resembled her. People being people, they reproduced!
There are some that want to make this an issue of hypocrisy on TJ's part, but he truly was anti-slavery, as proven by the FIRST DRAFT of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a human being. But a phenomenally great one, and ANYONE should be glad to claim him as an ancestor.
2006-10-25 12:03:25 · answer #2 · answered by Thorbjorn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would anyone want to trace their decedants to Jefferson?
2006-10-25 11:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋