Thomas Jefferson or Maximilien de Robespierre?

[HisGrace]

Jefferson wasn't a mass murderer and has actual positive accomplishments to balance out his faults.

[HisGrace]

probably Jefferson tbh; if we're talking slavery he did far more damage to its viability as an institution than Robespierre (given the Girondins had abolished it before him e.g. Sonthanax in Haiti, not to mention the efforts of the rebellious slaves themselves; and after he fell from power slavery would be reinstated and not be banned till the Second Republic.

That's something a lot of people don't consider about Jefferson. Despite being a hypocrite and personally owning slaves his ideas directly lead to the abolition of slavery. So his impact goes far beyond just his own personal life in that area and is net positive. Same type deal with Gandhi.

[HisGrace]

probably Jefferson tbh; if we're talking slavery he did far more damage to its viability as an institution than Robespierre (given the Girondins had abolished it before him e.g. Sonthanax in Haiti, not to mention the efforts of the rebellious slaves themselves; and after he fell from power slavery would be reinstated and not be banned till the Second Republic.

That's something a lot of people don't consider about Jefferson. Despite being a hypocrite and personally owning slaves his ideas directly lead to the abolition of slavery. So his impact goes far beyond just his own personal life in that area and is net positive. Same type deal with Gandhi.

not even in the sense of his ideas: he is a big part of why the NW Territory were kept slave-free, and Virginia under his leadership was one of the first worldwide jurisdictions to ban the slave trade.

He also outright banned the import of slaves into the US as President. Probably the most significant blow against slavery prior to it being outright banned and an accomplishment that would single handledly be enough to make him a top five president, whatever else he did.