...Thomas Jefferson was greatly influenced by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes while writing the Declaration of Independence. Their philosophies were that if the people gave the government power, the government would protect society from the chaos due to the disregard of laws. Slavery was occurring across the thirteen colonies during the time the Declaration was being drafted, but it was not addressed in the statement. The Declaration has three parts to it. The first part showed beliefs about government, the second part included a list of King George’s wrong doings to show how he had violated the people’s rights, and the last part was Congress’s actual statement of independence from Great Britain. Slavery was occurring across the thirteen colonies...
Words: 274 - Pages: 2
...A number of slaves tried to secure their own freedom, only to find the legal system was not on their side. The United States Courts was responsible for hearing and ruling on some of the country’s most controversial cases. The research in this paper was greatly influenced by previous works, with the hopes of shedding light on the United States court systems as it related to African American slaves in this time frame. Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860 According to Lubert (2010) Slavery has been the great moral failing of the American Revolution… a movement that was based on the self-evident truth that all men were created equal. The founding fathers believed that slavery was in fact an embarrassing contradiction that violated everything the American Revolution stood for (Lubert, 2010.). Even though documents such as the Declaration of Independence existed slavery was widely practiced and legally acceptable. Nearly twenty years after the Declaration of Independence was written. Fugitive slave law was introduced in the United States. The fugitive slave law was known as the “Fugitive Slave Act”. This act made it illegal for individuals to interfere with the attainment of fugitive slaves…. "No person held to labor or service in one State under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such labor or service, but shall...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
...beginning a four-year battle that would end on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered in Appomattox, Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, ending what became known as the American Civil War (Davidson, Gienapp, Heyrman, Lytle, and Stoff, 2006). In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, America went into two different economical directions: the North became industrial the South agricultural. Although it is believed the underlying cause behind the Civil War was due to the abolition of slavery (slaves were considered a major asset in the southern states), the following timeline shows there were many other factors involved as well. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the firing of the first shots at Fort Sumter, America’s journey for equality and unity was a hard one, leaving in its wake destruction, discord, and civil unrest. ____________________________________________________________ ____________ 1776: Declaration of Independence • Was written by Thomas Jefferson • Was signed on July 4th, severing all ties to Britain 1787: Northwest Ordinance • Was passed on July 13th establishing the intent to expand into the West adding new states to the Union. Constitutional Convention • Held their final meeting on September 17th signing into effect the Constitution of the United States. 1794: The Cotton Gin • Was patented by Eli Whitney, increasing the production of clean cotton • The value of and need...
Words: 2773 - Pages: 12
...The Declaration of Independence assured that all people were "created equal," and "endowed by their Creator" with the "unalienable Rights," of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" (Miller Center of Public Affairs)2. If this was really true, then how could a man responsible for writing the sacred words "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" believe in his own words and yet still own slaves? (Finkelman) . Jefferson states both his opposition to the institution and his belief in the racial inferiority of blacks. Jefferson concluded that blacks were originally from a distinct race, and that they were inferior to all whites. This result led Americans to accept the egalitarian ideas of the Declaration of Independence and racially based slavery. “All men, it would seem, were "endowed by their Creator" with natural rights, but because blacks were physically and mentally unequal, they were legitimately enslaved by whites. In a sense, the American Revolution made the scientific and racist defense of slavery necessary (Miller Center of Public Affairs) .” At the time of the American Revolution,...
Words: 666 - Pages: 3
...Benjamin Bannaker was born on November 9th 1731 in Ellicott’s Mills Maryland. Son of Robert and Mary Banneky. Mary was the daughter of an englishwoman named Molly Welsh a former indentured servant. Benjamin was a largely self-educated Mathematician, astronomer compiler of almanacs and also a writer. Benjamin never had to go through slavery because his parents were eventually freed. His grandmother introduced him into learning and how to read. He also went to a small school for a while, he educated himself mostly he didn't do anything to make him look less brilliant. Benjamin accomplished constructing an irrigation system for the family farm ( Sprinkler) and a wooden clock he kept until the day he died in 1806. Benjamin taught himself astronomy and accurately forecasted lunar and solar eclipses. When his father died he took over his family farm making a well-run business selling tobacco via crops. (http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-banneker-9198038) Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter in a very respectful way to Thomas Jefferson because if he approached this letter the wrong way he wouldn't be received in the right way and Thomas...
Words: 614 - Pages: 3
...focus on the welfare of minority groups. Women’s suffrage, abolition, and asylum and prison reform became hot topics during the Second Great Awakening, a movement that took place in the early 1800s. The Second Great Awakening was headed by religious leaders who sought out changes in American society through uniting the American people (Doc. B). Due to the Second Great Awakening, reform movements were established between 1825 and 1850 to represent the changes American people sought for in the matters of slavery, suffrage, and asylum and prison reform. Nat Turner’s rebellion, occurring in 1831, changed dynamics of slavery in America....
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...Running Head: Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech [Name of the writer] [Name of the institution] Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech Introduction In the nineteenth century, many communities and cities in America celebrates Independence Day with a solemn reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by a general direction, either oral or a speech marking the celebration of independence and heritage of the American Revolution founding fathers. On July 5, 1852 "Ladies Society of slavery in Rochester, New York, suggested that Douglas will be the keynote speaker during the celebration of Independence Day. Mr. Douglas denounced the journalists and advocates of the abolition of slavery of African origin as the evil of slavery, which still prevails in South America at the time. He received a sheer support from the Declaration of Independence and established the general principles of American institutions that will work inevitably to depose slavery. Analytical Summary In the darkest moments of World War II, on July 4 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt reminded the nation that the democratic freedom which was claimed by the citizens has been established for them. According to him, July 4 is a tonic of hope and inspiration for all the nation. So the people should stand stronga and fight for freedom in this dark hour. People received this message as a breath of security, right to liberty for...
Words: 988 - Pages: 4
...As stated in the famous Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal. . .” (Jefferson 235), the founding fathers established a principle that would be applicable to all men including slaves. As a result, America is known for this specific fundamental principle, that all men possess equal natural rights. In the middle of a revolution between Great Britain the founding fathers found it necessary to establish the right fundamental principles for the future of America. After signing the Declaration of Independence it was a duty for the founding fathers to adhere to it. How did the founding fathers establish a government that would lead to the abolition of slavery? They did so by establishing a government that would follow the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. As depicted in some of Thomas Jefferson’s writings, it was necessary to end slavery and he laid out why...
Words: 1552 - Pages: 7
...Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th 1706 and died on April 17th 1790. Throughout his life he worked as a Founding Father, inventor, scientist, politician and diplomat. He helped create the Declaration of Independence and write the Constitution. He invented glasses and he created the first library in America. He had slaves while living in America. He began to change his views on slavery and he eventually released his slaves in 1760. When he was older, he began to oppose slavery even more. He was president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. He wrote many works about ending slavery and how it was evil. In 1790 he petitioned to congress to end slavery and the slave trade. At first, Franklin believed that...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
... signed by Lincoln himself. I was intrigued by this document because all I was doing was looking at this piece of paper and imagining Lincoln sitting down actually signing this with a feather and some ink. Trying to picture yourself living back in those days is The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”. The Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863, was a major step towards the abolition of slavery, helping to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence and renew the nation’s founding philosophy of human liberty. Due to the Civil War, Lincoln realized that changing the Constitution itself would not be sufficient enough to solve the issue of slavery. Even though the senate was two votes short of the two-thirds necessary for passage in the House of Representatives, they approved the abolition amendment by 1864. At Lincoln’s urging, the amendment was re-introduced. “The abolition of slavery by Constitutional provisions settles the fate,” Lincoln implored Republican congressmen, “not only of the millions...
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
...Equal Rights for Some On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted into the system, giving freedom that may have never been intended. This document specifically affected blacks. One effect was the emancipation of slaves, which gave blacks their freedom. Although blacks tried to get equal rights into the new constitution, there has been several alterations which extended from the freedom of slaves to the egalitarianism amongst men and women. The position of slavery was involved in the drafting of the document. The declaration contained an evident undertake of liberty and equality that was discontented for African-Americans prior to the Civil War and was only moderately rewarded after. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the declaration...
Words: 1259 - Pages: 6
...Benjamin Rush was born on January 4, 1746, just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1781, Rush became a abolitionist, he came to meet a group of Africans who had been telling stories relating of the horror of slavery. Rush published on the evil of the slave trade helping and helping organize the first anti-slavery society.Pennsylvania supported and promoted the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Enslavement. Philadelphia's black community, Rush promoted the African Church and he also recruited some black people and others to attend the sick during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The abolitionist movement called for...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...people were beginning to get a sense of reformation regarding American idealism of a democratic and free society. The core goal to end slavery became the central focus to a group known as abolitionists. Formed by a limited amount of men and women both white and black, the abolitionists came most from the North with hardly any from the South. The beliefs of the abolitionists to end slavery in the mid eighteen hundreds, came from not only their understanding of freedom and citizenship which meant equal rights for all persons regardless of their skin color or racial background, but the fact African Americans had not received any rights, and had used slaves as a source of income. Abolitionists indicated “African Americans should be recognized as American citizens and incorporated into the nation” , since American society intended for everyone living in the United States to be citizens. Black and white abolitionists who tried to end slavery were William Lloyd Garrison, Theodore Weld, and Frederick Douglas. 2. The movement of the abolition of slavery started to intensify as both northern and southern individuals gathered to voice their hostility towards slavery by using the public sphere. Abolitionists focused mainly on changing the views of the public on slavery by publishing pamphlets, gathering signatures on petitions, speaking out against slavery, and getting involved in other crusades. The other crusades included “restraining the consumption of liquor, alleviating the plight of...
Words: 1844 - Pages: 8
...Human Rights 1. The nature and Development of human rights The definition of human rights * Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) sets out the fundamental purpose for recognizing human rights * In the general sense, human rights refer to basic rights and freedoms that are believed to belong to all human beings * As stated in the UDHR, these rights differ from ordinary rights under domestic law as they are considered to be universal, inalienable (cannot be taken away) and inherent to all people. Developing recognition of human rights * The abolition of slavery * The campaign for universal suffrage * The trade union movement and labour rights * The right of a group to self-determination * Emerging environmental rights * The attempt to establish a right to peace The abolition of slavery * Slavery is a type of forced labour where a person is considered to be the legal property of another * Slavery was practiced legally until the 20th century * Common forms of slavery involved: debt slavery (forced to pay off a loan with labour), slavery as punishment for crime, prisoners of war committed to slavery * Moves to abolish slavery and slave trading began in the 12th century, e.g. Iceland abolished slavery in 1117 * During the 17th – 19th century, the transatlantic slave trade (the trading of African people by Europeans, transporting them as slaves from Africa to the colonies of the New World) was in action as Europeans...
Words: 4879 - Pages: 20
...others, but they have all shaped how America is today. Whether it be war, inventions, or presidents, they have all changed America into what it is. Three events that have changed America between 1776 and 1870 are independence from Great Britain, The Civil War, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Independence from Great Britain started with a book. Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine in January 1776. It was the first document to openly discuss independence from Britain. Thomas Paine argued that people in the colonies deserved an egalitarian government, meaning they are equal and deserved rights. This started an uproar in the colonies. So congress began to discuss independence. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and was ratified on July 4, 1776. This document announced the independence from Britain and began the newly independent America....
Words: 511 - Pages: 3
