Why do you think Jefferson called the slavery issue a "firebell in the night"? Write a short paragraph in which you explain your conclusion.

A firebell is an alarm, and he is raising the alarm about slavery.

He believed the slavery issue could destroy the union.

He believed the slavery issue would come up again.

He believed a geographic line separating slave and nonslave states would lead to conflict.

The views of the Thomas Jefferson on the issue of slavery are composite. He criticized the practice of slavery and work harder to end it. Jefferson strongly opposed the Missouri Compromise / agreement (The Missouri compromise or agreement was a mutual agreement between United States and Missouri which provided for the entry of Missouri as slave free state) and considered this agreement as "a fire bell in the night".

He had feared that this agreement would break the union. He stated that slavery is a very serious issue which needs to address very carefully. He further stated that the next generation is the one who can end this issue (human slavery).