Possible Answers to Discussion Questions
Antislavery
Rights of slaves:
- liberty
- comforts of life
- exemption from being treated as property to be sold
- family unity
- spiritual freedom
- fair treatment
Sewall's views about slaves:
- they "can seldom use their freedom well"
- they shouldn't "embody", or commingle with us
- they will "never grow up into orderly families"- their family structures will not be as they should be according to white society
- they are "poor silly Wretches"
Why Sewall is against slavery:
- We are all of one blood and as such, slaves have as much right to liberty as anyone else
- It goes against the teachings of the Bible
- Slaveholders do not exhibit Christian behavior by holding people against their will
- We are going against the golden rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us
Proslavery
How slaves are equal to Europeans:
- They are entitled to become Christians
- They are men too- we are all of one blood
- They are children of God too
How slaves are inferior to Europeans:
- They need Europeans to take care of them
- They are ignorant, wicked, base, with poor miserable souls
- They are possessions
Best way to treat slaves:
- With charity
- Turn them into good Christians- help them to convert their souls
- Treat them as men, neighbors, brothers
- Govern & protect them
- Feed & clothe them, offer them times of rest, make them comfortable
- Love them as you love yourself
How a minister is doing good work by keeping slaves:
- He is converting them to Christianity and allowing them to be children of God too
- He is instructing them in the ways of Christianity
Why the views of people in the 18th and early 19th centuries are different from ours:
- On the whole, theirs was a much more religious society than ours, thus making for different values or a different emphasis on some values.
- Many believed that those of a non-European origin were inherently less intelligent, and not enough scientific or psychological experiments had been developed or performed to prove otherwise.
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