1. How does Taper’s letter reverse the rhetoric, common among white Americans, which saw the United States as a land of freedom and the British empire as lacking in liberty?
The letter by Jose Taper is one of the historical documents that brings to reality the hostility experienced by the slaves in America, and Virginia in particular. Taper, who was a fugitive in Fredrick County, gave details of his experience as a slave in a land where people pretended to promote freedom. Taper escaped to Pennsylvania and later, to Canada. His letter provides brief details of the reasons why he escaped, including harsh treatment by his masters, which included being forced to work long hours without rest. He also noted that although a man is supposed to be born free and equal in America, he was treated as a slave simply because of his dark skin color. In addition, he noted that in a country, which claimed civilization and freedom for all, men who were created in the image and likeness of God were being placed on the same level as brutes. The pretentious nature of white men in Virginia is confirmed by Eric Foner who argued, “shall we esteem men honest in their pretensions to piety and benevolence, who compel their help to labor on the Sabbath day or lose their situation?” (167). However, Taper was happy that he had fled to Canada, where he acquired a new life without the scars of slavery. …show more content…
What aspects of life in Canada does Taper emphasize as elements of his new freedom?
Taper makes it clear that living in Canada was a dream for most of the slaves due to the high level of freedom. He claims that by taking his family to Canada, he offered them a gift, Liberty. In Canada, Taper and his family were granted the right to live without the fear of being enslaved once again. There was no difference between white people and people of color. All lives were respected and valued
The letter by Jose Taper is one of the historical documents that brings to reality the hostility experienced by the slaves in America, and Virginia in particular. Taper, who was a fugitive in Fredrick County, gave details of his experience as a slave in a land where people pretended to promote freedom. Taper escaped to Pennsylvania and later, to Canada. His letter provides brief details of the reasons why he escaped, including harsh treatment by his masters, which included being forced to work long hours without rest. He also noted that although a man is supposed to be born free and equal in America, he was treated as a slave simply because of his dark skin color. In addition, he noted that in a country, which claimed civilization and freedom for all, men who were created in the image and likeness of God were being placed on the same level as brutes. The pretentious nature of white men in Virginia is confirmed by Eric Foner who argued, “shall we esteem men honest in their pretensions to piety and benevolence, who compel their help to labor on the Sabbath day or lose their situation?” (167). However, Taper was happy that he had fled to Canada, where he acquired a new life without the scars of slavery. …show more content…
What aspects of life in Canada does Taper emphasize as elements of his new freedom?
Taper makes it clear that living in Canada was a dream for most of the slaves due to the high level of freedom. He claims that by taking his family to Canada, he offered them a gift, Liberty. In Canada, Taper and his family were granted the right to live without the fear of being enslaved once again. There was no difference between white people and people of color. All lives were respected and valued