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How Are Benjamin Banneker And Thomas Jefferson Alike

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In the 1971 correspondence between a free African-American man and the author of The Declaration of Independence, differences are seen in how each man views freedom, equality, and race. Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson to discuss the issues within the freedom and equality of enslaved black men. Thomas Jefferson’s response touched on the issues presented to him, but none were resolved. After this correspondence, Jefferson writes to Joel Barlow and states his true opinions on Banneker. By using these documents, I will summarize, compare, and analyze the opinions on freedom, equality, and race between Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Banneker is a free African-American man that wrote to Thomas Jefferson on the inequalities …show more content…

Thomas Jefferson responded to Banneker’s letter two weeks after the letter was first written. Jefferson’s response is formal and short. He admits the inequality of men should not be neglected yet disregards to come up with a solution. Later he admits in a letter to Joel Barlow that he had given Banneker a “… very soft answer.” (Jefferson). At the time Jefferson “… personally owned and sold upwards of 700 slaves.” (Created Equal: How Benjamin Banneker Challenged Jefferson on Race and Freedom). If Jefferson were to solve the inequality and freedom issues, then he would have to give up his slaves. In the letter, Jefferson states he was amazed by the intelligence exhibited by Banneker and uses this statement as a justification on how amazing the African-American race is. Even though Banneker is a free man, Jefferson still sees himself above him, this idea is exemplified in a letter Jefferson writes years later to …show more content…

Banneker is ardent in his writing to Thomas Jefferson and makes him aware of the discriminations upon the African-American race. Throughout his letter, Banneker challenges Jefferson to uphold the ideals set forth in The Declaration of Independence. Banneker thought if he could show Jefferson when given equal opportunities anyone can do remarkable things. But Jefferson is not convinced by Banneker’s words. Jefferson is surprised at Banneker’s knowledge and impressed by the almanac he created, Jefferson sends the almanac as a “… document to which your whole color [has] a right for their justification against the doubts which have been entertained of them” (Jefferson). Jefferson does this to please Banneker and to show the world how great the country is. In the letter between Jefferson and Barlow, Jefferson admits to suspecting Banneker receiving help when creating his almanac. Even though Banneker is a free intellectual man, Jefferson still views himself above him. In Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia (1781), he states that African-American’s are inferior to white

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780 Words | 4 Pages

His father was an enslaved West African from Guinea and his mother was the child of a female European indentured servant and an enslaved African who gained his freedom before she was born.” Mr. Banneker was a self- educated mathematician, astronomer, ran his family’s farm, and a writer among other things. He is mostly known for creating a wooden clock that ran every hour for over forty years, helping survey our nation’s capital, his widely read almanacs, and his letters to Thomas Jefferson. 4. For what audience was the document written?

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The speaker, Benjamin Banneker, in his letter, describes the situation of the slaves and argues why he opposes it. Banneker’s purpose is to argue that slaves need their natural rights and liberties just like any other human because they are equal. During that time in the 1790’s there were many rural and urban slaves working in plantations and farms as field labors, maids, etc. They didn’t have any fair treatment or were paid, instead they were treated like animals without liberties. He adopts a disturbed tone in order to describe the horrendous treatment the slaves received to prove and discuss that to Jefferson.

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464 Words | 2 Pages

As the son of two former slaves, Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson to end slavery in the United States. The letter was written in 1791 and argues that his “brethren” need to be freed just like Jefferson and the other founding fathers envisioned for the rest of the country. Banneker shows that he will provide any argument, and expose every angle he possibly can to extinguish slavery. He uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to achieve this goal, such as allusion and analogy.

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401 Words | 2 Pages

Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson, the purpose of the letter was to argue against slavery. Banneker relies on the use of rhetorical devices to supply back up for his side of the argument. In addition, Banneker is a well-educated man (see farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author) so he can use his education to impress Jefferson with his smarts and logicalness. Throughout the letter to Jefferson, Banneker addresses Jefferson in the highest regard.

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688 Words | 3 Pages

Banneker brings up the point that Jefferson believes in “the benevolence of the Father of mankind” and the rights “the Father” has put forth to everyone, however, Jefferson, “counteracts his [the Father’s] mercies” by allowing slavery. This then leads Banneker to the conclusion that Jefferson should logically be held accountable for a criminal act, since Jefferson fails to acknowledge the violence numerous people are experiencing. There is also a sense of irony, since Banneker mentions earlier that Jefferson stated “all men are equal” and yet Jefferson counteracts the equality “the Father” has placed upon people. In fact, this also leads to conveying guilt, considering Banneker is holding Jefferson accountable for his actions and showing Jefferson that he is in the wrong, not the

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616 Words | 3 Pages

Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, references to history, and the Bible. As a son of former slaves, Banneker is seeking justice for the black population and uses Jefferson’s own words against him as he speaks on behalf of “Black America.” He shares his opinions with Jefferson, who is higher authority, in a respectful manner while still managing to criticize him. Banneker starts off his letter to Jefferson by calling his “Sir.” He refers to Jefferson this way because he wants to be respectful to this man who exists as a higher authority as a politician.

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880 Words | 4 Pages

In 1791, Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state and Banneker considered the respected Virginian, though a slaveholder, to also be open to viewing African Americans as more than slaves. Thus, he wrote Jefferson a letter hoping that he would “readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us." To further support his point, Banneker included a handwritten manuscript of an almanac for 1792, containing his astronomical calculations. In his letter, Banneker acknowledged he was “of the African race” and a free man. He recognized that he was taking “a liberty” writing to Jefferson, which would be unacceptable considering “the almost general prejudice and prepossession which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion.”

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In a letter written to Thomas Jefferson, shortly after the finalization of the constitution, Banneker wrote to unravel the paradox of Jefferson’s writing, in his lack of acknowledgement to Afro-American slavery. By manipulating diction, syntax, and pleas to Jefferson’s heart, Banneker adopted a respectful yet critical tone in order to help Jefferson discover it for himself. At the start of the letter, Banneker retells the story of American Revolution. Banneker speaks about the “tyranny of the British Crown” in its efforts to “reduce [the

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418 Words | 2 Pages

Farmer, astronomer and author Benjamin Banneker in his untitled letter strongly argues against slavery. Banneker's purpose is to argue and persuade against slavery and explain how it's unjustified at a time after the American Revolution and during a time when the House of Burgesses took away African's rights and made them forever bound to slavery brought by the slave codes. He adopts a serene tone in order to calmly and professionally expound on the ideas that he's going to explain to show why slavery is unjustified in his letter to a man of higher authority. Banneker achieves his purpose/tone through the use of diction and figurative language.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

Slavery has sadly been in America from the start. Many have different opinions about slavery whether it should stay or be abandoned and forgotten. Although one person has written to Thomas Jefferson about one of history’s most important subject. Banneker starts it off by writing his strong views on how wrong slavery is not just listing all the problems, but in a letter that he uses strategies to make his view convincing. Benjamin Banneker uses rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, and various style elements to argue against slavery.

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515 Words | 3 Pages

The tone overall tone of the letter is satirical. Throughout the letter, Banneker subtly reprimands Jefferson. For example, in the second paragraph of his essay, Banneker directly quotes Jefferson’s input to the Declaration of independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” By directly quoting Jefferson, Banneker essentially say it is ironic that Jefferson preaches equality, yet denies African Americans this “equality”. In a sense, Banneker is labeling Jefferson a hypocrite for not enforcing something he feels so strongly

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229 Words | 1 Pages

The quote also appeals to Jefferson’s emotions because Banneker makes him feel guilty about slavery. Jefferson

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651 Words | 3 Pages

Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson explains that he has committed this crime. He has gone back on his morale of everyone having unalienable rights by letting slavery continue to happen, and Banneker believes he is the prime contender in allowing this crime to happen and that he should be the start and make the move to stop slavery. Banneker explains this to Jefferson in such a way that the letter is both respectful and thoughtful while also being rude due to the use of how he phrases his sentences, that his argument can not be questioned because of his use of ‘Sir’ to show his respect, and his ardent choice of words which are all collectively used to explain how Jefferson is being hypocritical and show him why he should fix this.

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925 Words | 4 Pages

Though slavery persisted in the colonies, there were a number of free Black men, such as Benjamin Banneker. Born to a mixed mother and African father, Banneker was allotted the gift of freedom from infancy and allowed an education from his parents. He became one of the first well-known intellectual Black men of the colonies, and took advantage of his intellect and station in order to speak out against the injustices of slavery in a letter to Thomas Jefferson. Written in 1791, his letter is several pages long and urges Jefferson to fight for the emancipation of the slaves in America.

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470 Words | 2 Pages

Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson to argue against slavery. Banneker was an educated man, he was an astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and farmer, yet, Jefferson had not known this information. Banneker makes his argument through the use of allusion, diction, and repetition, which causes Banneker to seem reliable and have intelligence. To remind Jefferson of his own subjugation, Banneker alludes to the British Crown. “..British Crown were exerted with every powerful effort in order to reduce you to a State of Servitude.”

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