Do you feel that writing the Declaration of Independence while owning slaves was hypocritical? Why?

Question

I'm writing a paper for African American History and would love some INTELLIGENT quotes from people to include. Thanks!

Answer 1

This is a question that the founding fathers really did wrestle with, but the Continental Congress is not the place to look for intelligent quotes. The best place to look is the Philadelphia Convention debates of 1787 when the Constitution was being hashed out.

Here's why: a declaration is an old English form where a party declares something to be true and existent. The Magna Carta is a declaration. The Declaration of Independance was written very quickly and without much debate. The Continantal Congress decided in early June to declare independance, and they asked Thomas Jefferson to write it with a small committee (included were James Madison and Benjamin Franklin). Jefferson wrote one draft; the committee edited the draft; the second draft was presented to the Continental Congress, and they made a couple of edits (one about slavery, check out Pauline's Maier's "American Scripture" to see the editing process and all the drafts); Jefferson made a third and final draft which was passed.

Now, when we get to the Constitution, there is quite a lot about slavery in that document. The slavery passages are the result of a series of compromises and tons of debates. Many of the founding fathers found slavery to be immoral and felt that slavery could not exist in a free society. By 1787, Ben Franklin had freed his slave (his valet, Moses), and George Washington had made provisions to free all of his slaves upon his death (which happened). Others felt that abolishing slavery interfered with property rights and states' rights. These debates are very enlightening.

Even Christian theologians could not agree on the morality of slavery. Some said it was a sin and some said that owners were doing their slaves a favor by "civilizing" the savages.

But back to Jefferson--he wrote about the evils of slavery, and he claimed to believe in the abolition of slavery, but he could not bring himself to practice what he preached. Upon his death, Jefferson freed Sally Hemmings and the children that he fathered with her, but not her other children, and he left his remaining slaves to his daughter Martha. Jefferson also felt that when slavery was abolished that slaves should be repatriated to Africa. He felt that blacks were "too different" than whites for both to live peaceably together.

Answer 2

It is always a mistake to evaluate actions of a former era based on the morals or perceptions of our own time.

Begin with the assumption that men and women of good will were doing the best they could at the time with the gifts and insights that they had. There were people who honestly did not believe that Africans had souls - were "people" in the fullest sense of the word. That seems ridiculous to us today - but in that age, this was part of the tapestry of belief.

Not all did. We can find writings from men who thought slaves should be freed. But John the Baptist and Christ himself, St Paul and other writings from the early Christian Church - all have sayings about treating your slaves well. But no word against having them - simply that they should be treated well. No word about doing away with the system.

So early Americans could and did argue that slavery was approved by the Bible.

From a purely practical point of view, as is clear from the different notes about those meetings - if the issue of slavery had been pushed, the Declaration would not have been signed. It was one of the compromises that made the document possible.

Our government has long been run on the basis of compromise, men and more recently women coming together to solve problems for the benefit of the greatest number while protecting the rights of the minorities. The question of slavery was one of our first.

Hypocritical? I don't think there is anything written at the time that would support that judgment.

Answer 3

Because, like Benjamin Rush, who owned hundreds of slaves yet formed the first antislavery foundation with Ben Franklin, he knew slavery was wrong but he didn't know what to do about it. Often times slaves who were released were in worse condition than they were with their owners. People would not hire slaves, and most were recaptured or left homeless and starving.

Answer 4

excellent question: And I never really thought about it in that context and I would have to say yes. The premise that are all men are created equal that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Is certainly hypocritical being written by slave owners. However it should also be taken into consideration that many slave owners were not just barbaric disciplinarians, but that many did treat their slaves with dignity and respect.

Answer 5

"We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal."

In retrospect, you would think so. However, you have to understand the thoughts and beliefs of the day. This doesn't necessarily make it right but maybe a little more understandable. Regardless, changes are often slow but we seem to be on the right track now. Changes has to be a unanimous goal else the few will disrupt the many.

"... it is the option of the people to alter or abolish it".

Answer 6

Absolutely.
"These truths we hold to be self-evident; That all men are created equal..."
Thomas Jefferson owner of over 200 slaves when he wrote those words.
I guess he did'nt consider black men to be real men...