The late 1700’s was a time of Enlightenment were many hoped to achieve rights for colored people and allow room for debate on who was and what was right and wrong. The rights and wrongs of this time was whether or not blacks would become free slaves, have citizenship or even allowed rights to an education. The main focus for this essay is to compare and contrast, what Thomas Jefferson’s, Notes on the State of Virginia, and David Walker’s Appeal was believed to be true. Jefferson wanted whites to control all powers as far as race, education and slavery went, where as Walker wanted blacks to have equal rights just as the “superior” whites did.
Race was an idea that caused conflict between many people during the 1700’s. For example, Jefferson …show more content…
Jefferson’s beliefs were that if you grew up in the Christian religion, and chose to deny, “ the being of God, or the Trinity, or asserts there are more Gods than one, or denies the Christian religion to be true, or the scriptures to be of divine authority…” that they would be punished on the first offense by not being able to hold any employment in the church, civil or militarily (A, 674). He also believed that people should not worry about what others believe nor should they accuse them of wrong doings because as he says, “ It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg” (A, 674). For Walker, religion was a group of “pretended preachers” as he called them because whites, claimed to be of Christian faith, although they did not live the ways God would intend them to do so. In his Appeal to Jefferson he reassured that blacks would get their justice, by stating, “ Our sufferings will come to end…” meaning that God will give his final judgment and all sins would be equal. In conclusion, the Enlightenment was a time of confusion and inspiring blacks to become just as powerful and equal to white Americans especially in the areas of race, education and religion. Jefferson and Walker allowed their voices to be heard and fought for the rights and people they believed
Race was an idea that caused conflict between many people during the 1700’s. For example, Jefferson …show more content…
Jefferson’s beliefs were that if you grew up in the Christian religion, and chose to deny, “ the being of God, or the Trinity, or asserts there are more Gods than one, or denies the Christian religion to be true, or the scriptures to be of divine authority…” that they would be punished on the first offense by not being able to hold any employment in the church, civil or militarily (A, 674). He also believed that people should not worry about what others believe nor should they accuse them of wrong doings because as he says, “ It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg” (A, 674). For Walker, religion was a group of “pretended preachers” as he called them because whites, claimed to be of Christian faith, although they did not live the ways God would intend them to do so. In his Appeal to Jefferson he reassured that blacks would get their justice, by stating, “ Our sufferings will come to end…” meaning that God will give his final judgment and all sins would be equal. In conclusion, the Enlightenment was a time of confusion and inspiring blacks to become just as powerful and equal to white Americans especially in the areas of race, education and religion. Jefferson and Walker allowed their voices to be heard and fought for the rights and people they believed