View source for Notes on the States of Virginia

'''''Notes on the States of Virginia''''' (1781) was a book written by [[Thomas Jefferson]] which denounced the institution of [[slavery]] in [[America]].

Jefferson created such an outspoken denunciation of [[slavery]] that he hesitated to publish it, because "the terms in which I speak of slavery and of our [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] [in Virginia] may produce an irritation which will revolt the minds of our countrymen against the reform of these two articles, and thus do more harm then good."<ref>Paul Johnson, A History of the American People, page. 243</ref> Because deferring beliefs surrounding the issue of slavery, Jefferson attempted to limit the distribution of Notes on the States of Virginia but unauthorized versions forced him to publish it openly.<ref name="ansp">http://www.ansp.org/museum/jefferson/otherPages/notes_VA.php</ref> The very first edition of Note's appeared in 1787.<ref name="ansp" />

Ironically, although Jefferson argued for outright abolishment of slavery, he was a slave owner himself.