Mount Vernon was the home of George Washington. It was also home to hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children who lived here under Washington’s control. Show
He depended on their labor to build and maintain his household and plantation. They, in turn, found ways to survive in a world that denied their freedom. As a young man, Washington accepted slavery, but after the Revolutionary War, he began to question it. Washington avoided the issue publicly, believing that bitter debates over slavery could tear apart the fragile nation. He made his most public antislavery statement after his death. In his will, Washington ordered that his enslaved workers be freed at his wife’s death. Unfortunately, this applied to fewer than half of the people in bondage at Mount Vernon. Those owned by the Custis estate were inherited by Martha Washington’s grandchildren after her death. Many Washington and Custis enslaved people had married and formed families together. For them, separation from loved ones tainted celebrations of newfound freedom. At the time
of George Washington’s death, the Mount Vernon estate’s enslaved population consisted of 317 people. These silhouettes are meant to represent people in bondage at George Washington's Mount Vernon. The designs were based on physical descriptions, age, gender, clothing, and work assignment. Learn about each person The standard rations enslaved people received were cornmeal and salted fish, which they harvested themselves. In their
limited personal time, enslaved people kept gardens, raised poultry, and foraged. Learn More The standard slave quarter on Mount Vernon’s five farms was a rough one-room log structure with a wooden chimney. On
Mansion House Farm, many enslaved house servants and craftsmen lived in larger barracks-style quarters. Learn More
At Mount Vernon, many families were separated across different farms due to their work assignments. Learn More Mount Vernon’s enslaved people usually had no choice but to wear clothing identifying them as enslaved. Enslaved house servants were provided more and
better-quality clothing than field workers. Learn More
In 1799, a team of at least ten enslaved butlers, housemaids, waiters, and cooks ensured the Washingtons and their guests' needs were
always met. Learn More
In 1799, more than 50 enslaved men and women were trained in specific trades that kept parts of Mount Vernon’s operation self-sufficient. Learn More The majority of enslaved people at Mount Vernon were assigned to agricultural work on the plantation’s four outlying farms. Learn More
Mount Vernon's enslaved community found many ways to resist bondage and challenge George Washington’s authority. Resistance ranged from subtle behavior to more visible actions. Learn More
In
1799, Mount Vernon consisted of 8,000 acres divided into five farms, plus a gristmill and distillery. Enslaved men, women, and children lived on each farm The workers at Mansion House Farm were primarily domestic servants and craftsmen, while those on the outlying farms labored in the fields. Learn More
After the Revolution, George Washington repeatedly voiced opposition to slavery in
personal correspondence. He privately noted his support for a gradual, legislative end to slavery, but as a public figure, he did not make abolition a cause. Learn More George Washington addressed the issue of slavery in his will, when he ordered that his enslaved workers be freed
at his wife’s death. This emancipation provision was a powerful public statement of Washington’s antislavery views. Learn More
After their manumission in 1801, many people formerly enslaved by George Washington settled in free black communities near Mount Vernon. Learn More
The transatlantic slave trade
began to flourish in the 16th century. It quickly became a major enterprise for Portuguese, British, Spanish, French, and Dutch traders. Learn More Most enslaved people never had an opportunity to learn reading or writing, so they left few written records of their
own. At Mount Vernon we use Washington's words, combined with archaeology and oral history with descendants, to piece together the stories of Mount Vernon’s enslaved community. Learn More In 2014, Mount Vernon's archaeologists began a multi-year project to learn more about the Slave Cemetery at Mount Vernon. Learn More
A team of Mount Vernon staff and volunteers spent more than two years analyzing Washington’s papers and compiling references to the enslaved people who lived and worked on his plantation. Search by event type, person, skill, location, and more. Learn More
At
Mount Vernon, many original structures in which enslaved people lived and worked survive. These tangible spaces, along with discoveries made by historians and archaeologists, help us better understand the lives of individuals who were held in bondage on this estate. Learn More Mount Vernon is committed to interpreting the lives of the
enslaved people who lived and labored on George Washington's plantation. While an open discussion of slavery has evolved gradually, the organization has made efforts throughout its history to preserve, interpret, and memorialize those who were enslaved here. Learn More |
Which of the following could best be used as evidence to support the argument that enslaved people engaged in oppositional activities?
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