Nothing manifests more persuasively the American contradiction than that the author of the Declaration of Independence, a slave owner, wrote an antislavery clause into the document - as if to compel himself to be better than he was - which then had to be edited out so the Southern states, including Thomas Jefferson's own, would sign it.

In this quote, Steve Erickson addresses the inherent contradiction within America's founding ideals, particularly through the example of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, is portrayed as a key figure embodying this contradiction. Despite writing the powerful statement that "all men are created equal," Jefferson himself was a slave owner, which highlighted the moral and philosophical inconsistency in the nation's core principles at the time. Erickson points to this contradiction as a profound example of how the founding documents, while advocating for liberty, were also intertwined with the practice of slavery.

Erickson further elaborates on the antislavery clause originally included in the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson wrote to condemn the institution of slavery. The inclusion of this clause suggests that Jefferson was, at least on some level, aware of the moral wrong of slavery and perhaps attempting to hold himself and the nation accountable to its own principles of equality. However, this clause was eventually edited out of the document to ensure that the Southern states, including Jefferson's own, would agree to sign the Declaration and join the union.

The removal of the antislavery clause reflects the political realities of the time, where the need for unity and compromise among the colonies outweighed the moral argument against slavery. The decision to exclude the clause is a clear example of how the founding fathers, including Jefferson, were willing to compromise their own principles for the sake of maintaining national unity and political stability, even at the cost of moral consistency.

Ultimately, Erickson's quote illustrates a key paradox in American history: the tension between the nation's founding ideals of freedom and equality, and the institution of slavery that persisted for many years. By highlighting Jefferson's personal contradiction and the compromise made during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, Erickson sheds light on the complex moral and political challenges that the country faced as it sought to define its identity and future.