Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence




"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

These words of the Declaration of Independence have been quoted for decades, like scripture.

But where did these words come from? 

On May 27, 1776, Virginia circulated it's first proposal of 'The Virginia Declaration of Rights' for discussion. George Mason was asked to draft it. His first paragraph was as follows:

'THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.'

This statement was based on the colonial claims that Britain was out to enslave them in violation of natural law. This was a statement of natural law in it's purest form.

Upon reviewing the draft, Virginia slave holders were outraged. The paragraph clearly denied the basic principal of slavery in America, that children born of slave women belonged to their masters. And they would have none of it. The word 'born' was removed and the phrase 'when they entered a state of society' was added, (which exluded slaves who had not 'entered society').











As a Virginian, Thomas Jefferson closely followed the events that transpired at the Virginia Convention while he prepared his draft of the Declaration of Independence for all the colonies in June, 1776.  So he knew as a slave holder he could not include the phrase all men are 'born free and equal.'  
But if he struck that whole phrase from the Declaration, the British would accuse the colonies of declaring independence so they could enslave black people. Also, the phrase ensuring the right to obtain and possess property would confirm the accusation, since slave holders perceived slaves as their property. Jefferson concluded that the problem with the Vriginia declaration was the precise nature of its language. 

He decided to use language that was cleverly ambiguous. For his draft Jefferson changed 'born' to 'created', which did not specify the process of birth by a woman. What happened after creation was not discussed. He also removed any mention of property and inserted the 'phrase pursuit of happiness', which could mean anything. The result was the 'lofty, poetic' language our forefathers held so dear to their hearts.


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The phrase has since been considered a hallmark statement in democratic constitutions and similar human rights instruments, many of which have adopted the phrase or variants thereof.
All the while, historians have conveniently failed to make known that Jefferson cleverly crafted that first paragraph of the Declaration so that slave holders could maintain their slaves. 
They have told us that Jefferson did hate slavery. But one can be against slavery and black people at the same time. These were practical men. They knew their nation wouldn't last long containing a large potentially rebellious population of Africans who had been so severely mistreated. That's why many were against continued slavery.
It never affected their racism or attitudes of white supremacy. Here are some other quotes from Jefferson historians "forget" to include in his narrative.

*
When the black man is 'freed, he is to be removed beyond the reach of mixture.'

*
"Whites have “flowing hair, a more elegant symmetry of form”. Even black men prefer white women over their own, just as orangutans prefer black women over their own."

* "In memory they are equal to the whites; in reason much inferior, as I think one could scarcely be found capable of tracing and comprehending the investigations of Euclid; and that in imagination they are dull, tasteless, and anomalous."

* Black people are better at music, but: "Whether they will be equal to the composition of a more extensive run of melody, or of complicated harmony, is yet to be proved."
(That sounds like a joke.)


* Black people are brave, but: "this may perhaps proceed from a want of forethought, which prevents their seeing a danger till it be present."

 ~ Thomas Jefferson, “Notes on the State of Virginia” (1787)



"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."



How far can we expect to get trying hold people to words they never really believed in the first place?





10 comments:

John said...

michael kors outlet
fitflops sale clearance
chaussure louboutin
canada goose jackets
mont blanc
nike huarache
basketball shoes
jordan pas cher
ralph lauren uk
fake oakley sunglasses
tommy hilfiger outlet
adidas superstars
cheap versace
gucci
christian louboutin
cheap jordans
abercrombie
adidas shoes uk
kevin durant shoes
sac longchamp
canada goose outlet
jordan shoes
mulberry handbags
nike free runs
prada
ugg boots clearance
ralph lauren
cheap uggs
air force 1
swarov ski jewelry
celine handbags
ray bans
2015924yuanyuan

Unknown said...

nhl jerseys
hermes belt for sale
tory burch outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
kobe bryants shoes
swarovski crystal
air jordan 11
ray ban outlet
coach outlet store
michael kors factory online
miami dolphins
celine outlet
michael kors handbags outlet
new york giants
nike outlet store
ralph lauren outlet
true religion outlet
toms outlet store
beats by dre
1023MINKO

Unknown said...

coach outlet online
reebok shoes
nike outlet store
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
supra shoes sale
tiffany jewelry
cartier watches for sale
michael kors handbags
christian louboutin uk
iphone case
soccer jerseys wholesale
louis vuitton outlet online
mulberry handbags sale
ugg outlet online
michael kors outlet
replica watches
rolex watches for sale
ugg boots
tory burch outlet
rolex watches
michael kors outlet clearance
coach outlet online
michael kors outlet online
ferragamo shoes
cheap jordan shoes
cheap football shirts
louis vuitton handbags
tods outlet
true religion outlet
nike free 5.0
tory burch outlet
rolex watches for sale
coach outlet store
mulberry outlet
0727jianxiang

raybanoutlet001 said...

mlb jerseys
dolce and gabbana
michael kors outlet
hermes belt
los angeles lakers
cheap oakley sunglasses
skechers shoes
bengals jersey
gucci outlet
cheap ray bans

Unknown said...

discount oakley sunglasses
versace
jerseys cheap
michael kors outlet store
abercrombie outlet
ralph lauren sale
ed hardy clothing
michael kors
rolex replica watches for sale
levis outlet
170513yueqin

jeje said...

kobe byrant shoes
adidas stan smith women
adidas nmd
yeezys
michael kors factory outlet
nike roshe run one
adidas ultra boost
nmd
cheap jordans
prada eyeglasses

raybanoutlet001 said...

polo ralph lauren outlet
christian louboutin shoes
ray ban sunglasses
nike shoes
moncler outlet
cheap jordans
coach outlet online
cheap jordan shoes
nike store
nike blazer

Unknown said...

zzzzz2018.6.11
coach outlet online
kate spade outlet
dsquared2
cheap jordan shoes
coach outlet store online
nike shoes for men
pandora jewelry
tory burch outlet
salomon
coach outlet online

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.10.15
canada goose outlet
ralph lauren
clarks outlet
coach factory outlet
jordan 4
nhl jersey
christian louboutin
ugg outlet
coach outlet
clarks outlet

teighez said...

replica bags lv gucci replica a7g97m5w41 replica bags wholesale mumbai my response m0o70i4q93 replica louis vuitton bags replica bags near me replica bags in uk hermes replica p7f18s6m19 replica bags in gaffar market