How Does Jefferson's Appeal To The Public

Thomas Jefferson was a founding father and the third president of the United States. He is an important part of American history and most people have a positive image of him. Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia provides an instant shock to the reader by revealing a very negative side of the third president of the United States. In this work, he is very detailed in providing a undesirable description of the characteristics of African-Americans. His choice of words makes it easy to see how African-Americans and people in general could be offended by reading this part of his work. The line, “They secrete less by the kidnies, and more by the glands of the skin, which gives them a very strong and disagreeable odour” insinuates that they smelled like piss (Jefferson 763). This line is very graphic and makes it clear that he viewed African-Americans as inferior. It is hard to believe that a man who had such negative feelings towards African-Americans could write the phrase “all men are created equal” into The Declaration of Independence and expect people to believe his words. David Walker’s Appeal in Four Articles and William L. Garrison’s “To the Public” both point to The Declaration of Independence to criticize slavery. Walker challenges his audience, “to buy a copy of Mr. Jefferson’s “Notes on

Grimké’s Appeal to the Christian Women of the South is very effective in discrediting the notion that the Bible supports slavery. She highlights seven points that she feels are used to justify slavery and makes a case against each of them. In addition to refuting the Biblical reasoning for slavery, Grimké outlines her own personal four-step program. She challenges the reader to “Read then on the subject of slavery,” “Pray over this subject,” “Speak on this subject,” and “Act on this subject” (Grimké 772-774). Grimké explains each of the steps in detail and encourages research outside of the Bible, while mixing in verses from it to support her