"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
These are the final words of Patrick Henry's famous speech he gave at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1775. This quote is particularly poignant because it juxtaposes the first two inalienable rights. What good is life without liberty? Indeed, if there is one thing America has always been obsessed with it is liberty (or freedom), Yet this too has always been the most confusing thing about America. How can these political geniuses ignore the hypocrisy of bemoaning the shackles of slavery when they own slaves? Patrick Henry himself owned 67 slaves when he died and made no plans of manumission in his will. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration, owned over 600 slaves during his lifetime. 600 people were held against their will in the palace known as Monticello. Yet, he is the man credited with making the "right to liberty" a fundamental concept in American governance and culture. How do we understand this? How did Jefferson explain this and how has this manifested itself going forward? What about all the other groups that lacked freedom during this time period? Women of all races who had barely any legal standing? White men who did not own property who were being shut out of the political forum? How do we explain the disconnect between the words and the practice? Find out soon.
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