(Fig. 7.)
Hypocrisy at its Finest
When thinking of the role of petitions during the time of the Revolution, the one that likely comes to mind is the Olive Branch Petition. This petition was the final attempt to avoid a full blown war between the thirteen colonies and Britain. Most people can remember how that ended up working out. Regardless, while this particular petition was a significant aspect of Revolutionary history, it still is not the best demonstration of citizen involvement, as it was the Continental Congress that composed the petition. Actually, during this time it was the slaves that utilized petitions frequently as means for not only asking for freedom, but to demonstrate their own ability to come together, while exploiting the hypocrisy of slave-owning whites.
With the proliferation of enlightenment ideals during this time, it is no surprise that the same notions were being discussed amongst slaves. It wasn’t enough that the entire country was fighting for the freedom from oppression, but now many had adopted the notion that freedom was an inalienable right for man. Clearly, the slaves were able to use this argument in their own plight for freedom. One petition to the Massachusetts legislature in 1777 called for their petitioners to “apprehend that they have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unalienable Right to that freedom which the Great Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally on all Mankind.” [36] Here, one can note the attribution of rights to a supreme being, which was essential to the concept of inalienable rights. Many other petitions were served in Boston, which Gary B. Nash considered as the slaves taking “a page from the patriots’ book by organizing themselves so that they could speak as one body.” [37] On the other hand, some petitions were created for the exact opposite purpose, which was to defend the institution of slavery. A petition proposed to the Virginia legislature used the argument of the right to property to ensure that they did not have to free their slaves, nor deal with any free slaves in general. They argued that the abolition of slaves would mean the abolition of “the most valuable and indispensable Article of our Property,” and that it would be “a flagrant Contempt of the Constituent Powers of the Commonwealth.” [38]
These examples illustrate the coming together of various groups in an attempt to reach public officials. This kind of participation is one that has carried on into the modern day. Slavery as a subject of these petitions was very common, but as the population today knows, they weren’t incredibly effective in accomplishing the goal of abolition. The fear of massive involvement in the decision-making process is no doubt an enormous factor in inhibiting their success. Still, there is great significance in the recognition of citizen involvement in government during this time, as it was the roots of what Americans are able to flourish in today.
Hypocrisy at its Finest
When thinking of the role of petitions during the time of the Revolution, the one that likely comes to mind is the Olive Branch Petition. This petition was the final attempt to avoid a full blown war between the thirteen colonies and Britain. Most people can remember how that ended up working out. Regardless, while this particular petition was a significant aspect of Revolutionary history, it still is not the best demonstration of citizen involvement, as it was the Continental Congress that composed the petition. Actually, during this time it was the slaves that utilized petitions frequently as means for not only asking for freedom, but to demonstrate their own ability to come together, while exploiting the hypocrisy of slave-owning whites.
With the proliferation of enlightenment ideals during this time, it is no surprise that the same notions were being discussed amongst slaves. It wasn’t enough that the entire country was fighting for the freedom from oppression, but now many had adopted the notion that freedom was an inalienable right for man. Clearly, the slaves were able to use this argument in their own plight for freedom. One petition to the Massachusetts legislature in 1777 called for their petitioners to “apprehend that they have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unalienable Right to that freedom which the Great Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally on all Mankind.” [36] Here, one can note the attribution of rights to a supreme being, which was essential to the concept of inalienable rights. Many other petitions were served in Boston, which Gary B. Nash considered as the slaves taking “a page from the patriots’ book by organizing themselves so that they could speak as one body.” [37] On the other hand, some petitions were created for the exact opposite purpose, which was to defend the institution of slavery. A petition proposed to the Virginia legislature used the argument of the right to property to ensure that they did not have to free their slaves, nor deal with any free slaves in general. They argued that the abolition of slaves would mean the abolition of “the most valuable and indispensable Article of our Property,” and that it would be “a flagrant Contempt of the Constituent Powers of the Commonwealth.” [38]
These examples illustrate the coming together of various groups in an attempt to reach public officials. This kind of participation is one that has carried on into the modern day. Slavery as a subject of these petitions was very common, but as the population today knows, they weren’t incredibly effective in accomplishing the goal of abolition. The fear of massive involvement in the decision-making process is no doubt an enormous factor in inhibiting their success. Still, there is great significance in the recognition of citizen involvement in government during this time, as it was the roots of what Americans are able to flourish in today.