Jeffersonian Representation enters the US Constitution

[Darkest]

During his long career in public office, Jefferson attempted numerous times to abolish or limit the advance of slavery. According to a biographer, Jefferson "believed that it was the responsibility of the state and society to free all slaves[32]. In 1769, as a member of the House of Burgesses, Jefferson proposed for that body to emancipate slaves in Virginia, but he was unsuccessful [33]. In his first draft of the Declaration of Independence (1776), Jefferson condemned the British crown for sponsoring the importation of slavery to the colonies, charging that the crown "has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere." However, this language was dropped from the Declaration at the request of delegates from South Carolina and Georgia.

So, what if Thomas Jefferson sneaks the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, either ignoring the delegates of South Carolina and Georgia, or evading their communique? Now, the Declaration of Independence condemns the evils of slavery.

What I expect: Instead of going on the Tory side, free blacks and African slaves start rallying en masse into the Continental Army. However, South Carolina and Georgia have no idea what to do, tentatively supporting the revolution for certain interests, but advocating a seperate independence. Slaves escape towards the north to fight for freedom, while these two states try to sponsor purely white armies instead. Probably taken by the British pretty soon.

Meanwhile, in the Patriot armies, blacks are much more widely represented. Some could look at this in disdain and lose faith, but then again a lot might take new fervor in seeing the African race rising up with the whites for life and liberty. So, I expect that only a few soldiers would leave the armies because of the blacks taking part.

However, slavery was common and rampant back then, I assume that the American population will be slightly less sympathetic to the Patriot cause on a whole.

What do you think?

 

[Keenir]

So, what if Thomas Jefferson sneaks the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, either ignoring the delegates of South Carolina and Georgia, or evading their communique? Now, the Declaration of Independence condemns the evils of slavery.

However, slavery was common and rampant back then, I assume that the American population will be slightly less sympathetic to the Patriot cause on a whole.

What do you think?

I have a feeling that there might develop a division in the perception of blacks:

1. soldiers
2. slaves

....and never the twain shall meet. (after all, the Delegates might reason, Washington's army had many blacks in it - and blacks in the army didn't lead to an end to slavery)


and there'll probably be another version of the Declaration (which doesn't call slavery evil) which gets signed...Jefferson wasn't everywhere that the Declaration went.