440 Jefferson's Cut Grievance and the British Monarchy's Role in Slavery

Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence contained 28 grievances against King George III — not 27. The final grievance, the one Congress cut before signing, accused the British king of waging cruel war against human nature by trafficking enslaved Africans across the Atlantic, forcing slavery onto unwilling American colonists, and then inciting those same enslaved people to rise up and kill their enslavers. Did King George III and the British monarchy actually bear responsibility for slavery in the 13 colonies? Or was Jefferson's grievance a strategic sleight of hand — an attempt to pin a uniquely American system onto the crown he wanted to escape? Historian Brooke Newman, author of The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery, joins us to find out. She traces the British monarchy's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade from Queen Elizabeth I through King George III, examines what Jefferson got right and what he got wrong, and delivers her verdict on one of the most explosive what-ifs in United States history. Brooke's Website | Book | Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/440 EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:24 Episode Welcome and Jefferson's Cut Grievance 00:03:15 Guest Introduction: Brooke Newman 00:04:58 Jefferson's Claim and Brooke's Research Origins 00:09:28 Timeline of Monarchies and Terminology 00:12:03 England Enters the Slave Trade under Elizabeth I 00:17:41 Crown Investments and Royal African Company 00:30:15 Colonies Structured for Slavery 00:37:02 Logistics of the Slave Trade by Revolution 00:47:01 King George III's Views on Slavery 00:52:20 Virginia's 1772 Slave Trade Ban and Royal Veto 00:57:35 Dunmore's Proclamation: Not a Royal Act 01:01:17 Was George III to Blame? Jefferson's Strategy 01:04:26 Time Warp: If George III Abolished Slavery 01:10:56 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft 🎧 Episode 206: Christian Slavery 🎧 Episode 351: Wealth and Slavery in New Netherland 🎧 Episode 360: Slavery & Freedom in Massachusetts 🎧 Episode 394: The Pursuit of Happiness 🎧 Episode 438: The American Revolution and the Fate of the World SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 Make a Donation to Ben Franklin’s World REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 Topic Request Form 📫 liz@benfranklinsworld.com WHEN YOU'RE READY 🗞️ BFW Gazette Newsletter 👩‍💻 Join the BFW Listener Community 🌍 Join the History Explorers Club TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/quiz LISTEN 🎧 🍎 Apple Podcasts 💚 Spotify 🎶 Amazon Music 🛜 Pandora CONNECT 🦋 Liz on Bluesky 👩‍💻 Liz on LinkedIn 🛜 Liz’s Website SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 💚 Leave a rating on Spotify *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices