Handout 17 (The American Debate over Independence & The Declaration of Independence and slavery)

Why did conservatives like Joseph Galloway oppose and revolutionary action?

He believe that every action taken by the Britain was constitutional and that meeting in a continental congress was an act of treason.

Why did moderates like John Dickinson embrace revolutionary actions against British policies but oppose a declaration in independence?

He believed that British actions were unconstitutional and that the only way to achieve a solution was through diplomacy.

How did Jefferson address the issue of slavery in the original draft of the declaration of Independence?

he included a paragraph on the slave trade that referred to Africans as MEN.

Why did American radicals like John Adams and Benjamin franklin believe that independence was necessary?

The radicals believed that no reconciliation with Britain was possible and indolence was the only option left.

What was the continental congress's reaction to Jefferson's address of slavery in Declaration of Independence?

The southern delegates walked out and refused to support the Revolution until the language about slavery was removed.

When the paragraph about slavery was eliminated from the Declaration of Independence, how did the revision fundamentally alter the language of the document?

The word "men" at the start of the document became vague and the document no longer addressed slavery directly.