Banneker's Arguments Against Slavery

Benjamin Banneker in the letter, argues against slavery. Banneker uses biblical allusion, and a melancholic tone in order to argue against slavery to Thomas Jefferson in 1791. Banneker uses biblical allusion in order to demonstrate that all humans should be treated the same, and have equal rights. For example, “you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that it is the pecular blessing of Heaven” (Banneker 1). Banneker presents his argument by stating that Thomas Jefferson has freedom because of heaven, and he should extend the same right to everyone else.

In addition, Banneker uses the Declaration of Independence to stress the importance of freedom and rights for slaves. The Declaration states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creators with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” All people are guaranteed the rights of freedom and happiness when they are born. Banneker claims how these are the rights that all people are born with and can’t be taken away from us. The use of these sources helps prove to Jefferson that slavery is bad and should be

As a representative of slavery, Frederick Douglass in the speech, What To The American Slave Is Your 4th Of July?, denounces America’s disposition towards slavery, noting its emergence into a flagrantly hypocritical state. Douglass supports his denouncement by arguing that, to the African American slave, whether freed or not, the Fourth of July is merely reminiscent of the blatant injustice and cruelty they stand subject to every day. The author’s purpose is to declare that slaves are men as well, in order to slander the nation’s misconduct and unveil the great sin and shame of America: slavery. Douglass’s formal writing style addresses his audience of Americans who observe the holiday, as well as others interested in the topic of slavery and deception ー where America reigns. Within the introductory paragraph, Douglass relates that rather than express his gratitude for the abolishment of slavery, he leans to persuade and urge his audience to fight for the extension of the liberties described in the Declaration of Independence to all Americans.

1. The basic premise of Pinckney’s argument is founded on the idea that slavery, as a societal instrument, naturally exists and has existed throughout recorded history of civilization and religion, therefore discrediting the notions of its immorality by several northern legislators. Additionally, Pinckney supports slavery as an economic tool as well as a political tool, both with the intention of maintaining the union. Representative Pinckney supports slavery through the theocratic appeal of the bible to the representatives of congress by stating, “Now, sir, … is there a single line in the Old of New Testament either censuring or forbidding it? I answer without hesitation.” In fact, Pinckney continues to enforce the idea of slavery by citing the historical influences of slavery in instances of “Hagar… and an African slave, brought out of Egypt… and the beloved servant of the Most High,” as well as, “the Jews and the Greeks and Romans had all slaves” (Document 2) Pinckney in his argument appeals to the representatives as an outstanding

The first document Advocates Slavery, George Fitzhugh states that he supported slavery. Before the American Civil War pro-slavery forces changed from protecting the idea of slavery and explaining it to be a positive idea. Fitzhugh insisted that African Americans were childish people that needed protection. Other people believed that black people were not able to live out in free world. Fitzhugh said that “the negro race is inferior to the white race, and living in their midst, they would be far outstripped or outwitted in the chaos of free competition."

Fitzhugh 's "The Universal Law of Slavery" is a pro-slavery work. Fitzhugh attempts to defend slavery by saying, "He the Negro is but a child, and must be governed as a child" (1621). He also goes on to say, "The negro race is inferior to the white race" (1621). These points are meant to explain why slavery is necessary. However, these points only go to show Fitzhugh 's ignorance.

Allen Guelzo’s Thesis was centered around the idea that Lincoln viewed emancipation as “a goal to be achieved through prudential means, so that worthwhile consequences might result.” He argued that every gradual step Lincoln took towards the abolition of slavery was done to “balance the integrity of ends with the integrity of means,” to accomplish this while still placing the constitution above all of his personal opinions. Guelzo then presented and answered four questions that he believed arose as a result of his prudence argument; why is the language of the Proclamation bland, did the Proclamation actually do anything, did the slaves free themselves, and finally did Lincoln issue the Proclamation to only to prevent European intervention or inflate Union morale? In response to the first, Guelzo makes the point that the Proclamation was a legal document, and that “every syllable was liable to… legal

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, wrote to Thomas Jefferson in 1791 to argue against slavery and that the freedom and tranquility we enjoy is a blessing from heaven. The author uses quotes, diction and rhetorical questions to develop and support his claims. Banneker’s purpose is to get Thomas Jefferson to consider the morals of slavery. The intended audience is Thomas Jefferson and any other government official who reads this letter. To begin, Banneker uses an intricate choice of words to express how unhappy he is with slavery and those who allow it.

By attacking Jefferson’s religious ethics in a passive manner, Banneker effectively calls out Jefferson for supporting slavery, Jefferson’s crime against humanity. When Banneker says “You should be found guilty of that most criminal act which you profusely detested in others with respect to yourselves” after referencing Jefferson’s own religious beliefs he is implying that Jefferson is placing himself in a position above God, which is an eye opening statement for any religious American to say the

For Thoreau’s situation, he judged that the laws, maintaining slavery and support Mexican war were unfair. “Resistance to Civil Government” also known as “Civil Disobedience”, is an essay by Henry David Thoreau that was first published in 1849. Thoreau states that every individual should resist the government to overrule their will and that they have an obligation to disregard such acquience to enable the government to make them the agents of unequality and injustice. Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” upholds the need to prioritize one’s conscience over directs of law. It reprimands American social foundation and approaches, most conspicuously slavery and Mexican-American

America. Jefferson Davis, who was elected as a president of the Confederate States of America, was as eloquent proslavery president of the Confederacy. He believed that slavery was the crucial factor in Sothern States’ wealth. Jefferson Davis view of the Constitution was a contrary to what Frederick Douglas believed. He saw the Constitution as a great protections for whites.

A. Thesis Statement: During the period of the 1800s, Zinn proposes that our authorities bared with the idea of keeping slavery in tact due to its advantages until the point were it began to be abolished by a man known as Abraham Lincoln due to the rights of equality and freedom. Although Zinn makes it clear as to believing that slavery may not be abolished so simply as by pen to paper. B. Evidence used: 1. One point that Zinn proposed was fighting the reality of believing that in order to live in a society of peace with equality amongst the nation, a big occurrence or event must take place in order to go past the idea of slavery, I believe it proves that at that point our nation was under remarkable stance where they relied on the fact that slavery wasn’t going to be abolished without

Thomas Jefferson, the man that once stated, “...all men are created equal...”, still owned slaves and didn’t treat them equal. This is hypocrisy at the highest level, whether or not one only believes in the good of Thomas Jefferson. One could say that Jefferson stating “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” could be more important than his personal use of slaves since it was used to unite the country against the prominent nation of Great Britain. His writing in the Declaration of Independence is all about bringing the country together whilst stating certain rights that beings have, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He states that the citizens are able to get rid of or alter the government