Critical Review of From Slavery to Freedom, Chapter 5: “Give Me Liberty”
By: Brittanie Bartz
Date: 9/28/15
Instructor: Dr. John Davis
Franklin, John Hope (2010-01-20). From Slavery to Freedom (Page 85). McGraw-Hill Higher Education -A. Kindle Edition.
The conquest of the American Revolution has a rather dynamic history of struggle between two nations, one nation wanting economic power, and the other nation wanting economic independence. This rebellion caused an uproar of all seekers of independence to form an alliance against Britain. Liberty was deemed as the most motivational principle that it redefined the Revolution in its entirety. So much so that enslaved African Americans wanted to fight for the same principle; however, for them--this was not only a fight for American Independence but also, a fight for freedom from their own shackles. Chapter five of the textbook From Slavery to Freedom, “Give Me Liberty,” John Hope Franklin expressed the major impact of African Americans surrounding the Revolutionary War. According to John Hope Franklin, America as a nation was not only founded upon an anti-tax rebuttal but also accrediting racism as a major driving force of the American Revolution.
The beginning of this chapter quotes an iconic legend during this time frame by the name of Patrick Henry. Henry protested British Tyranny with such aggressive vigilance that he caused an uproar of protestors to follow him. Henry’s words were quite
In response to the tyranny of the British crown, Founding father, Governor of Virginia, and American Attorney Patrick Henry convincingly argues that the oppression of the British must be stopped, namely the quartering, stamp and intolerable acts and the colonist should fight against the Crown. Relevant, sufficient, and credible sources including logical reasons, calls to action anecdotes help Henry develop a cogent, insightful argument. Through his use of analogies, Henry is able to create effect connections to the audience through rhetorical questions, the emphasis is created and through negative diction, pathos is activated. Henry uses logos, ethos, and pathos to convince his audience of the necessities of fighting against the British because of their oppression by placing unreasonable laws upon them such as the embargo act and stamp act,
Before the American Revolution, unified resistance against governmental tyranny was an unknown to prosperous colonies. In 1775, Patrick Henry’s legendary speech to the Virginia Convention delegates inspires many to take arms against British despotism. Through the rhetorical strategies of allusion and diction, Henry urges the necessity for war against an unwanted government and advocates for the natural born rights of every colonist.
Preceding the American Revolution, the colonists were in a dilemma about whether they should amend relationships with British or declare independence. One of the patriotic leaders in America, Patrick Henry, shifts the balance of the colonists' decisions towards independence in his speech at the Virginia Convention. Through parallelism, metaphors, rhetorical questions, and religious appeal, Patrick Henry conveys that the British are treating the colonists poorly and that the Americans should fight for independence.
The American revolution was an inspiration to black people they hope the words of the patriots would apply equally to them, but they were wrong there was 700,000 slaves in the united states at its birth they had no rights and no power yet they determined hold america to its ideals there struggle would last for generation. Chapel massachusetts at the time before the time of america country this was slave country slavery was legal here just as it was in each of the 13 colonies, but the revolution brought new laws to this land one slave began to test these laws her name was Macbeth she heard talk about a new constitution that said all men were free so Mambeth decided to act.
The Revolutionary War was fought on principles of liberty, freedom, and justice for all - but when the dust had settled, and the Constitution finally agreed upon, the American people still owned slaves. The right to own other people was a cornerstone of American culture, and a major driver of its economy - it was unlikely to simple go away. Ironically, patriots would use a great deal of anti-slavery rhetoric to illustrate their struggle against the British, but in the aftermath of revolution, it became clear that “all men” did not include black men. Slavery, as it is properly understood, is a terrible institution that relies on oppression. Oftentimes, it used brutality and torture to keep productivity high. Such an oppressive system invites
In The Long Emancipation: The Demise of Slavery in the United States, Berlin draws attention to various parts of anti-slavery resistance that often escape consideration. He emphasizes the efforts of African Americans themselves. Berlin brings together main ideas, events, and people who made slave emancipation in the U.S. possible and that American freedom as a complex, disputed process. The author is not focused on speeches, written arguments, and petitions against slavery but with how slaves and free blacks took steps to permanently pull apart forced servitude in the face of crushing hostility. Author Glenn David Brasher of The Peninsula Campaign and the Necessity of Emancipation: African Americans and the Fight for Freedom zooms in and focuses
Starting from a slave’s birth, this cruel process leads to a continuous cycle of abuse, neglect, and inhumane treatment. To some extent, slave holders succeed because they keep most slaves so concerned with survival that they have no time or energy to consider freedom. This is particularly true for plantation slaves where the conditions of slave life are the most difficult and challenging. However, slave holders fail to realize the damage they inadvertently inflict on themselves by upholding slavery and enforcing these austere laws and attitudes.
Enlightenment had a significant effect on African Americans during the revolutionary era due to the nature of John Locke’s arguments. Consequently, when these arguments were made the African Americans listened, understood, and interpreted very well that the British settlers were demanding liberty for themselves while contradictorily denying the slaves of their basic human rights. In addition to the African Americans understanding said arguments, there were Caucasian people who believed that blacks were entitled to share these basic human rights as well. Therefore, it gave African Americans hope that there would soon be a change in favor of their civil rights as well as the courage to protest, litigate, escape, and or fight against the powers
The American Revolution resonated with all classes of society, as it stood to divide a nation’s loyalties and recreate the existing fabric of society. During the 1770s to mid 1780s, no group living in the British American colonies was left unaffected. For blacks enslaved in America, the war presented the fleeting possibility of freedom in a nation that was still dependent on an economic structure of oppression and bondage. For those blacks that were free, they chose their alliances wisely in hopes of gaining economic opportunities and improving their status in the American colonies. The American Negroes, whether free or enslaved, could be found on either side of the battlefront. They took on many different roles, some fighting on the
The American Revolution, which resulted into the creation of The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, and several other important individuals would make horrendous contradictions that would create a double standard for African Americans. To this day our society is still plagued, and greatly affected by these double standards.
Slavery was an embarrassing time in America’s history. In 2016, slavery has become a distant memory. It’s easy for us to admit that slavery is wrong but, in Frederick Douglass’s time no one thought that it was. Frederick Douglass went on to write books and give speeches in hope that one day all slaves would be free. In the book called “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, he attempts to shine light on the American Slave system in the 1800’s.
African Americans were a big part of the Revolutionary War. According to the Declaration of Independence “all men are created equal” but the African Americans questioned whether or not that applied to them. Before independence was even declared many blacks joined the continental army but General Washington didn’t let them join because he thought that the runaway slaves would take advantage of army. In, “History Alive!” they state, “Washington did not want the army to become a haven for runaway slaves.” (pg. 122). Another reason General Washington didn’t want the Africans Americans fighting for them was because some members of the army doubted their loyalty. Not letting the African Americans join would prove to
Knowledge is a primary factor in the attainment of personal freedom. This includes not only scholarly education but also awareness of historical heritage and familial legacy. The fact that African-Americans were held in human bondage cannot
Foner, E. (2014). "What is freedom?": Reconstruction. In Give me liberty!: An American history (Seagull 4th ed., Vol. 2). New York: W. W. Norton &.
KING, WILMA. "Slavery, United States." Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society. 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2010 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3402800373.html