Benjamin Banneker Letter To Thomas Jefferson Analysis

In his letter to Thomas Jefferson, a former slave and author Benjamin Banneker cultivates a central argument that institutionalized slavery is a great injustice to the ideals set forth by the United States, contradicting the norms upheld by the Declaration of Independence. To truly understand and resolve the conflict of international enslavement, secretary of state Thomas Jefferson must place himself in the view of current slaves to interpret the harsh and oppressive systems to cultivate improved societal reform. Banneker solidifies this claim by analyzing the commonalities between the harsh treatment of US citizens during British tyranny to the active system of enslavement, ironically citing the development of the Declaration of Independence

Banneker directly acknowledges this period of historical oppression through his letter, openly commenting on the similarities between Britain’s rule and the active enslavement of African Americans in the post-DOI era. By highlighting the shared ideals of oppression and forced labor work which produces a “variety of dangers” for the enslaved peoples, Banneker produces a base foundation opposing slavery. This key similarity of the cruel and freedom restriction under the two consecutive historical events in the early history of the United States. He continues to urge Jefferson to cultivate change in this manner by contrasting the “groaning captivity and cruel oppression” of life under British authority and modern slavery to the “freedom and tranquility” the oppressors leisurely enjoy outside the stretches of enslavement, particularly by targeting this accusatory language toward Thomas Jefferson. The recollection and comparison of recent events in the history of the 13 colonies aid in invoking the remembrance in Benneker’s target audience of Thomas Jefferson with the cruel treatment placed upon US citizens under the authority of Great

That being the case, Jefferson’s authority over the continued development of slavery was solidified, not caring to acknowledge the enslaved persons of the 13 colonies while cultivating the Declaration. Consequently, Banneker subtly recognizes the authoritative power and works of Jefferson, particularly through the ideals expressed in the Declaration. Through his letter, Banneker cites the most notable verse of the document that “...all men are created equal” and born with “unalienable rights” to the object freedoms of “life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Subsequently, Banneker retains his respective attitude toward Jefferson’s accomplishments while reapplying Jefferson’s own words to the concept of slavery. While highlighting how political leaders and many white citizens in the US possess access to these “present freedom[s]” of equality throughout the United States per the Declaration, Banneker repurposes the document to improve his credibility, solidifying his argument that the current slaves did not preserve these same freedoms. In particular, Banneker forces Jefferson to consider the extent of the line that “all men are created equal,” suggesting that the doctrine should extend to the enslaved persons of the United States. Furthermore, this skeptical