Laura Schoonover

Hist. 007A- Document Interpretation #3

Dr. Sachtjen
Nov. 12, 2015
Taxation Without Representation
In 1777 the document petitioning the freedom and release of enslaved individuals was
written and presented to the court of law. The writing was intended for the court and
those designated to grant freedom to the men and women who had been enslaved in
America since its conception. The petition pointed out multiple reasons why individuals
should not be enslaved including it goes against an individuals most basic human rights.
Not to mention most men and women from Africa who became enslaved were brought to
the New World against their will as well as the fact there was no evidence of any legal
binding agreement between the enslaved individual and the property owner. Most
importantly the petition points out that the enslaved individuals have an unalienable right
to freedom just as the men and women who own them do, if not more.
Before this petition was written, America itself was fighting for its freedom. In the
summer of 1775 the first congress was developed that in turn helped America become its
own country apart from Britain. The First Continental Congress was developed in order
to complete this separation between the 12 colonies and British Parliament. The
importance of this is important due to the similarities between the freedom from Britain
the colonies desired as well as the freedom from slavery the blacks desperately needed.
As the months went on the Second Continental Congress gathered and requested supplies
in order to organize the army needed to gain independence. After much debate and
discussion Congress eventually voted for Independence on July 2, 1776. Shortly after the
vote Thomas Jefferson wrote up a declaration that challenged Americans to make good
on the principle that all men are created equal (p. 120). This passage also mentioned in
the petition stated as the natural right of all men was support for the freedom they so
desired when before congress in 1777.
During the fight for freedom in 1776, many African American men were on the
battlefield in support of whatever side would deliver them from bondage (p. 123). The
men fighting during this time werent just fighting for the colonies or for the British; they
were fighting for their families, for their lives, for their future and for their freedom.
After the petition of 1777 to congress Rhode Island voted to free any enslaved individual
if they would volunteer to serve (p. 123) The textbook states that according to the
lawmakers, history taught that the wisest, the freest, and the bravest nationsliberated
their slaves, and enlisted them as soldiers to fight in fence of their country (p. 123).
Once again not only does this attitude toward enslaved individuals demean their
humanity it does everything but empower them. This idea of enabling or creating
opportunities to allow your slaves to serve was just a means to an end. Once again the
states didnt care if the enslaved men lived or died but merely took advantage of the
enslaved mans powerlessness.

More than 10,000 African Americans fought for the British during the way in 1778. I find
it no coincidence that most of them relocated to their homelands, Nova Scotia, Florida,
Jamaica, or somewhere far away from the individuals that enslaved them for so many
years. As the petition states, Among A People Profesing the mild Religion of Jesus A
people Not Insensible of the Secrets of Rational Being Nor without spirit to Resent the
unjust endeavours of others to Reduce them to a state of Bondage and Subjection your
honouer Need not to be informed that A Life of Slavery Like that of your petioners
Deprived of Every social privilege of Every thing Requisit to Render Life Tolable is far
worse then Nonexistence. It is better to never have lived than to have survived in
slavery. In the years to come we see slavery becoming close to extinction by the
beginning of the 19th century in the northern states such as Vermont, Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts. Unfortunately, this freedom of enslaved individuals was not accompanied
with equality.
Why would African Americans fight for the British and not the colonies they lived in?
How does could this time in history help us understand or try to solve the situations that
are going on in the world today?
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6237/