Sunday, January 31, 2010
A "Master", writing The Declartion of Independence.
As a result of social injustices suffered by the tyranny of King George III, Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of Independence to sever Colonial ties with with Britain. Jefferson went on to list grievances reasoning the need for Independence, Freedom and Liberty. He also wrote about basic Human Rights and having a Just and Independent Government. Although Jefferson later became an advocate for abolishing slavery, he did own slaves at the time he wrote this doctrine. Do you feel that this damages his credibility overall? Does this make him a Hyprocrite? I certainly believe so, how can one justify freedom but doesn't practice it.
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Indeed Thomas Jefferson own slaves which in my opinion I find Jefferson to be a hypocrite. I admit, he wrote the Declaration of Independence and even in our generation it remains one of the greatest and most valuable documents of our time; but as he was writing the Declaration of Independence stating that "all men are created equal," did he keep in mind that slaves were going to play a major role in his testimony? Or was the document only applied to those whom were not slaves? I mean, he was "opposed to slavery" even though he owned more than 200 slaves at his home in Monticello. If you read his Notes on Virginia, Jefferson makes inflammatory and derogatory remarks directed against African Americans. He makes no mention of the rights of African Americans in the Declaration of Independence. Still, his credibility remains high. How? Why?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Declaration Of Independence there was some good points about Pursuit of Happiness,life,and liberty but one thing i truly didnt understand was the fact that he is calling Indians savages. What puzzles me the most is your pretty much knocking down everthing King George is and how the new colonies should become independent but become a new king George all at the same time but taking land from the west and having black slaves and calling Indians savages. One thing i think is funny is that Thomas Jefferson wants to have nothing to do with King George and great britian but what do you think the Indians and blacks at that time feel about what Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the people representing the new colonies feel about revolution against Britain? Maybe the blacks and the indians feel the same way like the new colonist do but form there own revolution agaisnt the new colonist?
ReplyDeleteHaving slaves while writing, "all men are created equal," in the Declaration of Independence, may be insincere or hypocritical, but that same phrase had an integral part in abolishing slavery and establishing civil and social rights for African Americans. Though, it is a shame that the words in the Declaration of Independence did not apply to all at the time it was written.
ReplyDeleteOf the documentation that I have read, I would have to say that Jefferson was a hypocrite. The Declaration was written with the purpose for the colonies to have their own voice and declare the separation from Great Britain and King George III, but it seems that this separation and mistreatment only applied to the colonies. What applies to one, should apply to all..
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was this that starting opening people's eyes to abolish slavery.
I believe that Thomas Jefferson was man of his time and slave owning was widely excepted and considerered a econimic necessity for the plantation ecomomy of which he was apart.But as a christian,he was deeply troubled by slavery and an early advocate of its abolishment.As the prime drafter of the declaration of independence he was forced to compromise his dislike of Slavery,by the need to have the slave owning colonies join in signing that declaration.So to me he was not a hypocrite.He was a just man of his time.
ReplyDeleteThomas Jefferson was a great writer. Reading the Declaration of independence were great choice of words that showed America wanted there independents from Britain . What people seem to forget that Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence but great men like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and others edited his work and all of the states Representatives signed it showing that they approved of what America stood for. Americas Independence was inspired by the great Thomas Jefferson.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think he is a hypocrite but obviously he played a large part abolishing slavery. I also think that he is being your average politician. Some politicians take a stance on what they think will allow them to get more support. He did not fully oppose slavery because his home owned slaves. I think he was just being a great politician and not a great man.
ReplyDeletei would agree with Karen that Jefferson was a man of his time. keep in mind that this document was written over a 2 day span with great care. while Jefferson himself was from virginia - a slave state - there were other statesmen that did not believe in or "practice" slavery. so it would be difficult to write "all white men are created equal." we must realize the time period and circumstances when this was written. they did not say "all men and women are created equal." remember white males were the only ones that could vote. so my question is were the founding fathers simply being vague or were they using the ability to think ahead and picture what things may be like in the future? and while jefferson gets credit for writting this document many people had their hands in it and their views expressed in it.
ReplyDeleteSashi
ReplyDeleteIndependence
In my opinion I also think Thomas Jefferson to be a hypocrite as he stated in the declaration of independence that "all men are created equal". Why then question of slavery arise? It rose because he was also a one of the wealthy farmers of Virginia with free African American laborers.
He also defined in the declaration about the rights of a citizen as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This all meant for non slavery people and for the wealthy farmers.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the most critical piece of literature during the 1700's, the Declaration of Independence. He stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest minds of his time like Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. He was an awesome
ReplyDeleteperson with words that swayed the nation and pointed out the travesties being committed by the king and his armies. A king that sent his armies to opress the American Colonies and plunder our resources and crops and haul them back to Britian. All the while denying the American people fair representation in their courts and chambers of laws. Passing unfair laws and limiting the trading of the American colonies with other countries.
My hat is off to him. He stood up to an entire nation that was a lot more advanced, at that time, and inspired people from all walks of life. With the Declaration of Independence he helped to free an entire nation of tyranny and put faith and hope back into the hearts and minds of people.