Description
DirectionsAfter reading the two short primary source documents listed below, construct an essay based on the following question:How and why did black people use the language of the American Revolution—of natural rights—in freedom petitions to argue for their freedom and the abolition of slavery?Primary Source DocumentsYour essay should be based on your reading and analysis of the primary source documents. Your paper should be 2 to 3 pages in length and use double-spacing and 12 point font. Please use MLA style.Petition of Slaves in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay by FelixDownload Petition of Slaves in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay by FelixFreedom Petition of Prince Hall
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AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture
Module 4: Primary Resource Document
Freedom Petition of Prince Hall
Source Overview: This freedom petition from 1777 was presented to the Massachusetts General
Court by Prince Hall, a free black man who lived in Boston, along with nine other black
petitioners. Hall is also known for founding the first black freemasonry lodge in American
history during the revolutionary era.(1)
To the Honorable Counsel & House of Representatives for the State of Massachusetts Bay in
General Court assembled, January 13, 1777.
The petition of A Great Number of Blackes detained in a State of slavery in the bowels
of a free & Christian Country Humbly showeth that your Petitioners apprehend that they have in
Common with all other men a Natural and [Unalienable] Right to that freedom which the Grat
Parent of the Universe that Bestowed equally on all menkind and which they have Never
forfeited by any Compact or agreement whatever — but that wher Unjustly Dragged by the hand
of cruel Power and their Derest friends and sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their
tender Parents — from A populous Pleasant and Plentiful country and in violation of Laws of
Nature and of Nations and in Defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity Brough here Either
to Be sold like Beast of burthen & Like them Condemned to Slavery for Life — Among A
People Professing the mild Religion of Jesus A people Not Insensible of the Secrets of Rational
Being Nor without spirit to Resent the unjust endeavors of others to Reduce them to a state of
Bondage and Subjugation your hononuer Need not to be informed that A Live of Slavery Like
that of your petitioners Deprived of Every social privilege of Every thing Requisite and render
Life Tolable is far worse that Nonexistance.
[In imitat]ion of the Lawdable Example of the Good People of these States your
petitioners have Long and Patiently waited the Event of petition after petition. By them presented
to the Legislative Body of this state and cannot but with Grief Reflect that their Success hath
been but too similar they Cannot but express their Astonishment that It have Never Bin
Considered that Every Principle from which America has Acted in the Course of their unhappy
Difficulties with Great Briton Pleads Stronger than A thousand arguments in favors of your
petitioners they therfor humble Beseech your honours to give this petition its due weight and
consideration & cause an act of the legislature to be past Wherby they may be Restored to the
Enjoyments of that which is the Natural right of all men — and their Children who wher Born in
this Land of Liberty may not be held as Slaves after they arrive at the age of twenty one years so
may the Inhabitance of this States No longer chargeable with the inconstancy of acting
themselves that part which they condemn and oppose in others Be prospered in their present
Glorious struggle for Liberty and have those Blessings to them, &c. (16)
AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture
Module 4: Primary Resource Document
Attributions
(1) Content by Florida State College at Jacksonville is licensed under CC BY 4.0
(16) Petition for freedom to the Massachusetts Council and the House of Representatives,
January 1777 by Massachusetts Historical Society is in the Public Domain.
AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture
Module 4: Primary Resource Document
Freedom Petition of Prince Hall
Source Overview: This freedom petition from 1777 was presented to the Massachusetts General
Court by Prince Hall, a free black man who lived in Boston, along with nine other black
petitioners. Hall is also known for founding the first black freemasonry lodge in American
history during the revolutionary era.(1)
To the Honorable Counsel & House of Representatives for the State of Massachusetts Bay in
General Court assembled, January 13, 1777.
The petition of A Great Number of Blackes detained in a State of slavery in the bowels
of a free & Christian Country Humbly showeth that your Petitioners apprehend that they have in
Common with all other men a Natural and [Unalienable] Right to that freedom which the Grat
Parent of the Universe that Bestowed equally on all menkind and which they have Never
forfeited by any Compact or agreement whatever — but that wher Unjustly Dragged by the hand
of cruel Power and their Derest friends and sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their
tender Parents — from A populous Pleasant and Plentiful country and in violation of Laws of
Nature and of Nations and in Defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity Brough here Either
to Be sold like Beast of burthen & Like them Condemned to Slavery for Life — Among A
People Professing the mild Religion of Jesus A people Not Insensible of the Secrets of Rational
Being Nor without spirit to Resent the unjust endeavors of others to Reduce them to a state of
Bondage and Subjugation your hononuer Need not to be informed that A Live of Slavery Like
that of your petitioners Deprived of Every social privilege of Every thing Requisite and render
Life Tolable is far worse that Nonexistance.
[In imitat]ion of the Lawdable Example of the Good People of these States your
petitioners have Long and Patiently waited the Event of petition after petition. By them presented
to the Legislative Body of this state and cannot but with Grief Reflect that their Success hath
been but too similar they Cannot but express their Astonishment that It have Never Bin
Considered that Every Principle from which America has Acted in the Course of their unhappy
Difficulties with Great Briton Pleads Stronger than A thousand arguments in favors of your
petitioners they therfor humble Beseech your honours to give this petition its due weight and
consideration & cause an act of the legislature to be past Wherby they may be Restored to the
Enjoyments of that which is the Natural right of all men — and their Children who wher Born in
this Land of Liberty may not be held as Slaves after they arrive at the age of twenty one years so
may the Inhabitance of this States No longer chargeable with the inconstancy of acting
themselves that part which they condemn and oppose in others Be prospered in their present
Glorious struggle for Liberty and have those Blessings to them, &c. (16)
AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture
Module 4: Primary Resource Document
Attributions
(1) Content by Florida State College at Jacksonville is licensed under CC BY 4.0
(16) Petition for freedom to the Massachusetts Council and the House of Representatives,
January 1777 by Massachusetts Historical Society is in the Public Domain.
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