In 1791, a correspondence between Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson took place. It was nothing less than a brief discussion on the topic of slavery and how African Americans where viewed in society. This correspondence started August 16, 1791 when Benjamin Banneker found himself writing a letter to Thomas Jefferson. It did not end with this letter, but rather with one the Thomas Jefferson had wrote to Banneker regarding his previous letter. The two letters both held beliefs and truths that both Jefferson and Banneker, but it also contained differences. In this essay the letters, beliefs each holds, and differences are going to be compared and contrasted.
Benjamin Banneker was a freed African American who was born November 9, 1731 as …show more content…
He authorized the Declaration of Independence, was Secretary of the United States, and had been Governor of Virginia once. Throughout his years in office he drafted a law in Virginia that made it illegal to import anymore enslaved African Americans and proposed a law that would get rid of slavery in the Northwest. When responding back to Banneker’s letter, Jefferson kept it in a way short and sweet. He informs Banneker that “nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men ….” Further less he just continues to go on stating that he agrees and that something needs to be done to further show the equality of whites and …show more content…
The letters that they wrote are so different in many ways. Banneker put so much time, effort, and thought into his letter and made sure he got his point across. Jefferson on the other hand put very little thought and effort into his. They although did share many of the same beliefs throughout the letters. Banneker pointed out to Jefferson in so many different cases that The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights simply states that all men are created equal and they are all given the same opportunities, but that Jefferson and all the other men in office are contradicting these words that they are supposed to be upholding. I feel as if Jefferson does believe Banneker in a way because he has gone out of his way multiple times to set laws into place that would abolish slavery and without believing that the way African Americans have been treated is wrong he wouldn’t have done so. In a way, this did change Jefferson’s mind a little. After reading everything this historical period shows us that people are willing to put everything on the line and step up and also that the men with power had their own beliefs, but did not put them out there in society enough. It seems as if they went along with others who had
Benjamin Banneker was a freed African American who was born November 9, 1731 as …show more content…
He authorized the Declaration of Independence, was Secretary of the United States, and had been Governor of Virginia once. Throughout his years in office he drafted a law in Virginia that made it illegal to import anymore enslaved African Americans and proposed a law that would get rid of slavery in the Northwest. When responding back to Banneker’s letter, Jefferson kept it in a way short and sweet. He informs Banneker that “nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men ….” Further less he just continues to go on stating that he agrees and that something needs to be done to further show the equality of whites and …show more content…
The letters that they wrote are so different in many ways. Banneker put so much time, effort, and thought into his letter and made sure he got his point across. Jefferson on the other hand put very little thought and effort into his. They although did share many of the same beliefs throughout the letters. Banneker pointed out to Jefferson in so many different cases that The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights simply states that all men are created equal and they are all given the same opportunities, but that Jefferson and all the other men in office are contradicting these words that they are supposed to be upholding. I feel as if Jefferson does believe Banneker in a way because he has gone out of his way multiple times to set laws into place that would abolish slavery and without believing that the way African Americans have been treated is wrong he wouldn’t have done so. In a way, this did change Jefferson’s mind a little. After reading everything this historical period shows us that people are willing to put everything on the line and step up and also that the men with power had their own beliefs, but did not put them out there in society enough. It seems as if they went along with others who had