Natural and Inalienable Right to Freedom:
Slaves’ Petition for Freedom to the Massachusetts Legislature, 1777
1. What were the multiple reasons the petitioners listed for ending slavery?
The petition is a letter from an enslaved African American to the court justices requesting equality for all men and to end slavery. The petitioner begins his letter by stating that being of a free state where all men have been given an inalienable right to freedom; this is an absolute right and should be given to all men.
The petitioner uses logic by creating a connection between the struggles the enslaved people have suffered and those struggles the colonies have had with their King in Great Britain. The fact that the people of the colonies had placed themselves across an ocean from the King to pursue basic freedoms such as religion and prosperity they had been so wrongly denied would surely be understood by the justices.
The petitioner also directs attention to the fact that the slave owners preach Christianity and that the values of a Christian do not allow inhumane treatment of mankind. That it is far worse to deprive someone of their basic needs than to have never existed.
The petitioner also brings the fact that the enslaved people were never given a choice or offered employment. They were kidnapped from their homes and he paints a picture of a child being forcibly removed from the arms of a parent. Unlike the enslaved people, the indentured servants were able to make a choice to leave their homes, family and friends. The indentured slaves were a party to an agreement that had some monetary payoff as well as freedom at the end of its term. An enslaved person was never given an opportunity to make this decision.
2. What are the specific references to the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence seeks to resolve that all people have natural rights. The author of the petition makes several references to the term “natural rights.” The petitioner states that all men have in common the pursuit of inalienable right to freedom.
3. What, in your opinion, is the most convincing argument in the petition?
If I were a judge the petitioner’s reference to the Declaration of Independence and the fact that freedom was absolute as the undeniable reason for granting freedom. This would be the evidence I would use to order such freedom. However, for me personally, living in today’s society, it would be difficult for me to see that slavery is acceptable in any form. The mere thought that another person feels they are entitled to strip someone of their basic rights and needs is unfathomable.
More particular, as a parent, the thought of anyone being stolen from their homes and families is devastating and this was a compelling argument by the petitioner. I can’t imagine living in world where people accept and support slavery. I am very aware that it still exists but we watch enslaved people chained to each other while working in fields. We typically hear of such horrific treatment of people through journalists on television as we sit in the comfort of our homes.
Click here to read a copy of the petition: 1977 Petition for Freedom
The petition is a letter from an enslaved African American to the court justices requesting equality for all men and to end slavery. The petitioner begins his letter by stating that being of a free state where all men have been given an inalienable right to freedom; this is an absolute right and should be given to all men.
The petitioner uses logic by creating a connection between the struggles the enslaved people have suffered and those struggles the colonies have had with their King in Great Britain. The fact that the people of the colonies had placed themselves across an ocean from the King to pursue basic freedoms such as religion and prosperity they had been so wrongly denied would surely be understood by the justices.
The petitioner also directs attention to the fact that the slave owners preach Christianity and that the values of a Christian do not allow inhumane treatment of mankind. That it is far worse to deprive someone of their basic needs than to have never existed.
The petitioner also brings the fact that the enslaved people were never given a choice or offered employment. They were kidnapped from their homes and he paints a picture of a child being forcibly removed from the arms of a parent. Unlike the enslaved people, the indentured servants were able to make a choice to leave their homes, family and friends. The indentured slaves were a party to an agreement that had some monetary payoff as well as freedom at the end of its term. An enslaved person was never given an opportunity to make this decision.
2. What are the specific references to the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence seeks to resolve that all people have natural rights. The author of the petition makes several references to the term “natural rights.” The petitioner states that all men have in common the pursuit of inalienable right to freedom.
3. What, in your opinion, is the most convincing argument in the petition?
If I were a judge the petitioner’s reference to the Declaration of Independence and the fact that freedom was absolute as the undeniable reason for granting freedom. This would be the evidence I would use to order such freedom. However, for me personally, living in today’s society, it would be difficult for me to see that slavery is acceptable in any form. The mere thought that another person feels they are entitled to strip someone of their basic rights and needs is unfathomable.
More particular, as a parent, the thought of anyone being stolen from their homes and families is devastating and this was a compelling argument by the petitioner. I can’t imagine living in world where people accept and support slavery. I am very aware that it still exists but we watch enslaved people chained to each other while working in fields. We typically hear of such horrific treatment of people through journalists on television as we sit in the comfort of our homes.
Click here to read a copy of the petition: 1977 Petition for Freedom