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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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It was the degree of centrality to the white population of the state which alone then constituted the important point of comparison between these places: and the board, after full enquiry & impartial & mature consideration, are of opinion that the central point of the white population of the state is nearer to the central college, than to either Lexington or Staunton by great & important differences, and all other circumstances of the place in general being favorable to it as a position for an University, they do report the central college in Albemarle to be a convenient & proper part of the State for the University of Virginia.
These lines bring up the obvious issue of slavery, which was a core part of society in the South for many years. At the time, education was reserved only for white men, and in a state like Virginia, with a large slave population, it was necessary to make a distinction between between the central population, and the central white population. Additionally, the location and centrality of the University was important because of how slow transportation was. A distance that could take a few hours to drive now could have easily lasted multiple days back then, so Jefferson wanted to make sure that it was accessible as possible to all people in Virginia.
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