Thomas Jefferson and the Meanings of Liberty - 856 Words

Sydney Walker Thomas Jefferson and the Meanings of Liberty 1. a.) Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were both representative of their time in the fact that they still held prejudices against different races. This was nothing but the norm for the 18th and 19th century. Jefferson owned slaves and Franklin, for most of his life, adamantly believed that African Americans were lesser. b.) But, quite unlike the mainstream ideals of their time, both men held strong ideals of equality. Franklin did at the end of his life reverse his ideas about African Americans, and dedicated many of his later years to equality for blacks. Jefferson also believed slavery to be an atrocious blot on the face of America. Their strong opinions of equality†¦show more content†¦In the early stages of America, defiant anti-federalists saw liberty as a means for near anarchy. They wanted no restrictive laws so they could make a living and exist contentedly under the veil of selfishness. c.) Now, the idea of freedom for all of man is much more prevalent. I thi nk this change has occurred as our country has prospered. Jefferson did warn against a stagnant government mingled with a progressive population. Social rights movements are more numerous than they had been in the eighteenth century, when personal or party gain was more important than morality. 5. a.) Revisionism that stresses the faults of great figures can lead to an overwhelming negativity toward some great heroes who ultimately bring lessons of morality to the table. It perpetuates the idea that human beings, even the best of us, are always crawling with gaping character flaws. But, it also helps us humanize these great figures whose reputations often run away with them. It helps us to remember that political success does not equal morality. b.) This trend in historical writing alludes to a growing sense of both negativity and revolution in our society. As we begin to reject common figures of greatness and replace them with our own versions, modern-day youth culture is beginning to establish their own identity separate from current systems. This straying from the norm of decided importance implies a lack of trust or satisfaction with currentShow MoreRelatedThe Black Race By John Brown1234 Words   |  5 Pagestransforms his own slave narrative into a novel about a phen otypically white slave woman. This adds great meaning to mixed race individuals throughout the text because a white female will ultimately be the symbol of liberty for slaves. For instance, Clotel is the daughter of Jefferson, and is still not able to be liberated from the inevitable fate that black slaves faced. She was sold into slavery, even though she resembled the white race more than the black race. Brown depicts his racial mixtureRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Bannekers Letter To Thomas Jefferson958 Words   |  4 Pagessavor. 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