Difference between revisions of "HIST 131--Week 13 Questions/Comments"
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I found it interesting that Douglas points out the hypocritical attitude that most Americans have about slavery. He attacks the contradictions in their speech and actions by saying that "when their own [white] liberty is in question they will avail themselves of all the rulse of law which protect and defent their freedom; but when the black man's rights are in question they concede to everything for slavery and put liberty to the proof." This argument is based on the rhetoric of democracy that so many white Americans used, but refused to apply to slavery. Therefore, his arguments are very strong. I also found it interesting when we learned in class that he had white sponsors who bought his and his family's freedom after the court ruling. -Iris Onks | I found it interesting that Douglas points out the hypocritical attitude that most Americans have about slavery. He attacks the contradictions in their speech and actions by saying that "when their own [white] liberty is in question they will avail themselves of all the rulse of law which protect and defent their freedom; but when the black man's rights are in question they concede to everything for slavery and put liberty to the proof." This argument is based on the rhetoric of democracy that so many white Americans used, but refused to apply to slavery. Therefore, his arguments are very strong. I also found it interesting when we learned in class that he had white sponsors who bought his and his family's freedom after the court ruling. -Iris Onks | ||
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| + | When Douglass says that,"the negro an an exception to general rules... They reserve common law usage, and presume the negro a slave unless he can prove himself free. I, on the other hand, presume him free unless he is proved to be otherwise." This reminds me a lot of innocent until proven guilty in our court system. Is this what Douglass is getting at? - Katie Mauro | ||
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| + | The very last line of the Douglass pamphlet states, "If slaveholders have ruled the American Government for the last fifty years, let the anti-slavery men rule the nation for the next fifty years." This makes me think that Douglass might be speaking to the advantages the slave states have had in terms of getting bills and legislation passed over anti-slave states. - Katie Mauro | ||
== Jefferson Davis and the Pro-Slavery view of the Constitution, Speech before US Senate, May 1860 == | == Jefferson Davis and the Pro-Slavery view of the Constitution, Speech before US Senate, May 1860 == | ||
