Petition of Slaves
Petition of Slaves to the Massachusetts Legislature On January 13, 1777 seven African-American men in Massachusetts came together to go to the courts and their goal was to gain freedom. These men were slaves and in order for them to be set free they had the choice of running away, with the possibility of getting caught, or gathering a petition to take to the Massachusetts court. Just because these men had a petition does not mean that it would be passed. The Massachusetts colonial government had no say in making slaves free or not. Back in the day slaves were seen as people that were not book smart because they lacked education and that meant they could not read or write but they knew their rights. The slaves were much underestimated but they turned to the Constitution to prove their rights. The African-American slaves knew their rights and they fought against the Massachusetts colonial government because under the Constitution their rights were taken away from them when they had every right to be free.
Quok Walker was an African-American slave who was a part of the Massachusetts petition attempt in 1777. A couple of years later, in 1781, Walker sued the Massachusetts government because of a phrase that the Massachusetts Constitution contained. As the great Thomas Jefferson stated in 1776 in the Constitution, “All men are created equal.” Walker shared this phrase with the state of Massachusetts and because of Walker, he was one of the first people that helped Massachusetts. Massachusetts was the first state to abolish slavery. Every person in this country has rights and if those rights are ever denied then that person has the right to fight for their rights. Walker did not only fight for his rights but he fought for every slave in the state of Massachusetts. Walker then gave other states the strength and courage to do what he did and he helped them stand up for what they believed in. Walker was not the only one who stood up to the government. A woman by the
Quok Walker was an African-American slave who was a part of the Massachusetts petition attempt in 1777. A couple of years later, in 1781, Walker sued the Massachusetts government because of a phrase that the Massachusetts Constitution contained. As the great Thomas Jefferson stated in 1776 in the Constitution, “All men are created equal.” Walker shared this phrase with the state of Massachusetts and because of Walker, he was one of the first people that helped Massachusetts. Massachusetts was the first state to abolish slavery. Every person in this country has rights and if those rights are ever denied then that person has the right to fight for their rights. Walker did not only fight for his rights but he fought for every slave in the state of Massachusetts. Walker then gave other states the strength and courage to do what he did and he helped them stand up for what they believed in. Walker was not the only one who stood up to the government. A woman by the
Cited: Archives.com. The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. The Charters of Freedom. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 5th Series, III (Boston, 1877), pp. 436–37. Masshist.org. African Americans and the End of Slavery in Massachusetts. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.