Reading 1, Question 1: Thomas Jefferson begins the Declaration of Independence discussing why sometimes it is necessary to disband political ties with another party or nation on the grounds of both the laws of nature and of God. The first reason he gives defending the Colonies’ right to revolt is that whenever a government becomes caustic to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the responsibility of the people to end this rule and replace it with a new one. He states the these governments should not be revolted against unless there is dire need as in the instant of his second reason for rebellion- after a long series of abuse and neglect again demand a new government to provide security from said abuses. Jefferson repeatedly mentions …show more content…
They complain that their children are taken from them and often sold as slaves in distant lands where they will never see them again. They also mention that often their children’s lives are often unnaturally short from having been taken from their mothers so young. They ask how they can perform the duties of husband/ wife or that of a parent whilst in the condition of slavery. The petitioners argue that it is wrong to enslave their children who are born in a “free” country.
Reading 2, Question 3: The tone of these petitions to me is very much that of a plea. I feel as though the slaves are almost begging for their freedom. This is evident when the slaves almost praise their captors and the government- they even thank them for what they have done so far. The slaves remark that even the Spaniards give their slaves, or servants, a day off to work for themselves and some pay and ask that they may be entitled to that here which isn’t asking for too much. I think they offer to leave because they feel as though they would not be a burden elsewhere in addition to the fact that they probably do not want to live in the Americas any