The documentary was shot in dozens of locations, in more than 12 states, in world famous locales. Director Troy Thomas was was able to secure permission to shoot in all these places, yet there were two places that he was unable to gain permission: his own high school and his own college.
Mount Vernon's staff was very helpful in making this documentary. They allowed the crew to shoot interviews and b-roll during six days of on location photography. The crew was able to shoot inside Washington's mansion, on the farms, inside the slave quarters and in Washington's upper and lower gardens.
"Liberty & Slavery" took more than four years to produce.
George Washington owned 123 slaves at Mount Vernon at the time of his death. During the last summer of his life in 1799, Washington made out his will which stipulated that his slaves be freed upon the death on his wife, Martha Washington. However, Martha Washington agreed to free Washington's slaves prior to her death. Ironically, Martha Washington never freed her own slaves, also known as the "Dower Slaves".
Thomas Jefferson owned 607 slaves during his lifetime, including those at Monticello.