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The Declaration Of Independence Analysis

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In Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, he states that all men have the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and lists grievances why the American Colonies are seceding from Great Britain. Olaudah Equiano's autobiography “The Interesting Narrative” is about his experience as a slave and the violations of their unalienable rights that are stated in Jefferson's Declaration. Olaudah Equiano’s book “The Interesting Narrative” should be required by all Americans to read so that history doesn't repeat itself and so our posterity knows that the rights of all humans are sacred. The Declaration of Independence was a catalyst for the abolition movement and the different phrases and the wording of certain …show more content…

Now if the Declaration states that “all men are created equal... that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”(Citation) This phrase is interesting because it does not state whether this means all men of all races or just all white men which is how it was most likely interpreted then. Later this line was also used in the abolition movement like the phrase above and it shows a recurring theme that their small changes of words and vagueness in some areas may hint at the freedom of all slaves and the equal rights and treatment of all people. The context in which the declaration was written was not to free the slaves but Thomas Jefferson's ideas of freedom, equality, and unalienable rights for all were radical ideas that eventually inspired the abolition movement whether they were meant to or not. The short glimpse of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano gives us some very detailed and specific imagery on what the mood was like on board a slave ship. The conditions of this ship are beyond unsanitary and his description cannot even describe the absolute pain and suffering that these people

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