Democratic Representative Demonstrates Alarming Ignorance Regarding Declaration of Independence and Slavery

Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri falsely claims Founders were enslavers

Democratic Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, a member of the far-left "squad" of lawmakers, made false claims about the Founders and slavery on Independence Day. Bush tweeted that "The Declaration of Independence was written by enslavers and didn't recognize Black people as human" and called for reparations. However, her claims demonstrate a lack of knowledge of American history.

The committee tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence consisted of five men: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Jefferson wrote the first draft, with Adams and Franklin making over 80 changes to the document. Together, these men wrote the Declaration.

It is important to note that Adams never owned a slave and strongly opposed the institution. He referred to slavery as a "foul contagion in the human character" and expressed support for abolitionist efforts.

Similarly, Sherman, the only Founder to sign all four of America's founding documents, never owned a slave. He consistently opposed slavery because he believed in the inherent dignity of all humans.

While Franklin and Jefferson did own slaves, their views on slavery evolved over time. Franklin held slaves during much of his life, but during the Revolutionary War, he began to change his attitude. By 1781, he no longer possessed any slaves. In 1787, Franklin became president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and petitioned Congress for the abolition of slavery and the ban on slave importation.

Jefferson, most associated with writing the Declaration, also took steps to address slavery. In 1779, he introduced legislation in Virginia to ban the further importation of slaves and establish a process for freeing those held in bondage. Although the bill did not pass, Jefferson continued his efforts, supporting federal legislation in 1784 to prohibit slavery in the western territories. He expressed his belief in the humanity of black people and the rights of human nature.

The Constitution itself authorized the federal government to ban the importation of slaves in 1808. Congress passed a law in 1807, which then-President Jefferson signed, making the ban effective in 1808. Jefferson had called for such legislation in his 1806 State of the Union address.

It is clear that the Founders, including those involved in drafting the Declaration of Independence, had diverse views on slavery. While some owned slaves, others opposed the institution and took steps to address it. Bush's claims about the Founders being "enslavers" and not recognizing black people as human are inaccurate and fail to acknowledge the complexities of their beliefs and actions.

In promoting reparations, Bush is either ill-informed or intentionally spreading falsehoods. It is crucial to have a nuanced understanding of history and recognize the efforts made by individuals to address the issue of slavery. The men who drafted the Declaration of Independence were not all "enslavers," and founders like Franklin and Jefferson played significant roles in the movement to end slavery in America.

Share With Others