How did thomas jefferson and those of the enlightenment justify slavery?
slavery was already abolished at the time of the enlightenment.
the term "men" in "all men are created equal" meant only white men of british descent. there was never a thought that the races were equal. because the white race was superior slavery was "okay" in their minds.
he and others concluded that all people should be free but because the world depended on it, it just wouldn't happen at that time.
they didn't justify slavery - they wanted to abolish it.