The founding fathers and slavery is let’s just say....a touchy subject

Yes, George Washington owned slaves. Hundreds of them actually

As a young man Washington accepted slavery as part of life

But all that changed during the Revolutionary War

It started out of necessity. He needed all the bodies he could get for the war

But soon his views began to change

In 1788 he approved the first all black regiment

In 1789 he vouched for a plan that would free slaves who enlisted in the Continental army

The plan was denied

By the end of the Revolution he was pretty much convinced of the evils of slavery

It was at this time he ended his purchasing of slaves

By the end of his presidency Washington wrote in correspondence of his desire to free his slaves

There was just one problem. Martha

Many of George Washington’s slaves were really Martha’s

Martha had come from a very wealthy family

6 months before his death Washington changed his will most likely against the wishes of Martha

He stated that upon the death of his wife all slaves would be freed

Not only were they to be freed, but they were to be looked after and supported until they reached 25

All in all there were 9 presidents who owned slaves

George Washington was the only one who freed his

That should read 1778/1779. How embarrassing