As the nation observes the 400th anniversary of slavery a chicago documentary filmmaker tweeted about the painting declaration of independence which hangs in the rotunda of the u s.
Declaration of independence slavery. Slavery would be contradicting the declaration of independence because those slaves may have never gotten the chance to pursue happiness. Scrapped declaration of independence passage denounced slavery most everyone knows the declaration of independence was written by thomas jefferson. Although the issue of slavery was widely debated both the. The declaration of independence and the debate over slavery.
All of the participants in the second continental congress who signed the declaration of independence knew that slavery was an issue that concerned the nation. At the college of william and mary in williamsburg colonial virginia s capital he studied mathematics natural philosophy science and political. When thomas jefferson included a passage attacking slavery in his draft of the declaration of independence it initiated the most intense debate among the delegates gathered at philadelphia in the spring and early summer of 1776. Slavery had already been abolished in england and europe.
The united states declaration of independence is the pronouncement adopted by the second continental congress meeting at the pennsylvania state house now known as independence hall in philadelphia pennsylvania on july 4 1776 the declaration explained why the thirteen colonies at war with the kingdom of great britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states no longer. But most don t know about a very big edit before. Holly brewer will join lancasterhistory to discuss the anti slavery sentiment in jefferson s original draft of the declaration of independence and the vigorous debates it led to. Of all his writings thomas jefferson s most famous and far reaching was undoubtedly his draft of the declaration of independence.
Jefferson drew upon his education in law and enlightenment philosophy when he wrote the declaration of independence 1776 and a summary view of the rights of british america 1774 two treatises that grappled with liberty and slavery. Many of the founders and other citizens in the colonies argued for emancipation. Slavery the declaration of independence on thursday may 23 2019 dr.