Rebellion: Duty Against Tyranny, Jefferson's Call To Arms

Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He is often remembered for his progressive attitude towards African slaves, and his principles have stood the test of time, becoming major tools in the fight for equality. One of his most famous quotes is, When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. This quote has been used in various contexts, including as a rallying cry for freedom, justice, and liberty. While the exact wording of the quote has been debated, with some sources attributing a similar quote to Henry David Thoreau, the sentiment expressed by Jefferson continues to resonate with people today.

Thomas Jefferson's views on rebellion and tyranny

Thomas Jefferson is often attributed with the quote, "When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." However, this exact phrase has not been found in his writings. Nevertheless, the sentiment captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, where he wrote:

> "...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

This idea of rebellion against tyranny and injustice is a recurring theme in Jefferson's thinking. He believed that when a government becomes oppressive and violates the rights of its people, it is the duty of the people to rise up and overthrow that government.

Jefferson's views on rebellion and tyranny were shaped by his experiences during the American Revolution and his commitment to the principles of liberty and freedom. He argued that individuals have certain natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that governments exist to secure these rights. When a government fails to protect these rights and instead becomes a force of oppression, Jefferson believed that the people have a right and a duty to rebel.

However, it is important to note that Jefferson's own actions did not always align with his stated beliefs. For example, while he advocated for freedom and equality, he owned slaves and profited from the slave trade. This contradiction between his words and deeds has been the subject of much debate and criticism.

The Declaration of Independence

The United States Declaration of Independence was authored by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration proclaims that the then-colonies in America were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the British monarch's rule.

The exact phrase "when tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty" is not found in the Declaration of Independence. However, the sentiment is echoed in the following excerpt:

> ...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government...

This idea of rebellion as a duty against tyranny is a central theme of the Declaration of Independence. It is a call to arms for the American people to rise up against what they perceived as an oppressive and tyrannical government.

Jefferson's words have been a source of inspiration for many, and his ideas have had a lasting impact on the world, shaping political thought and the course of history.

Thomas Jefferson's views on slavery

However, Jefferson also enslaved more than 600 people over the course of his life and profited directly from the institution of slavery. He grew up on a plantation with enslaved workers and owned nearly 200 slaves as an adult. While he made some legislative attempts against slavery, he also wrote that he suspected Black people to be inferior to White people, and his views on emancipation were influenced by these racial beliefs. He thought that White Americans and enslaved Black people constituted two "separate nations" who could not live together peacefully and advocated for the removal of newly freed slaves from the United States.

As a young Virginia legislator, Jefferson advocated unsuccessfully for allowing private citizens to free their slaves. He also introduced a bill barring free Black people from staying in the state. As president, he signed a bill outlawing the transatlantic slave trade. However, he only freed seven of his own bondsmen, all members of the Hemmings family at Monticello.

Jefferson recognized the evils of slavery, but he also had concerns about emancipation, ranging from paternalistic to self-interest. He believed that most former slaves couldn't survive independently and that their emancipation would threaten his own economic survival and the safety of White people. As an older man, he advocated for freeing and returning slaves to Africa.

In summary, while Jefferson espoused beliefs in equality and liberty, he also held contradictory views on race and slavery, reflecting the complex and often hypocritical nature of his thinking on these issues.

The legacy of Thomas Jefferson's quotes

Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He also served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809.

The quote, "When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty," is widely attributed to Jefferson. However, this statement has not been found in his writings. Nonetheless, the quote captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, such as the right and duty of the people to overthrow a tyrannical government.

Jefferson's legacy is complex and often a subject of debate. While he is celebrated for his contributions to the founding of the United States and his progressive ideas about freedom and liberty, he also participated in and benefited from an unjust and immoral system of slavery. He owned hundreds of slaves himself, and despite his progressive attitude towards African slaves, he fell short of his ideal of freedom by denying it to those he exploited for his own comfort and profit.

Nevertheless, Jefferson's principles have stood the test of time and continue to inspire people fighting for equality and liberty. His ideas about freedom and resistance to tyranny have been major tools in the fight for equality and have influenced later movements for social and political change.

Thomas Jefferson's contributions to emancipation legislation

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was a slave owner who publicly opposed slavery. He believed that slavery was a "moral depravity" and a "hideous blot" and that it went against the laws of nature, which granted everyone a right to liberty. He also believed that slavery was the greatest threat to the survival of the new American nation.

Jefferson drafted a Virginia law in 1778 that prohibited the importation of enslaved Africans. In 1784, he proposed an ordinance that would have banned slavery in the Northwest territories. He advocated for a gradual emancipation of all slaves within the United States and the colonisation of Africa by freed African Americans.

However, Jefferson's views on race were complex and often contradictory. He believed that white Americans and enslaved blacks constituted two "separate nations" who could not live together peacefully. He also thought that black people were racially inferior and "as incapable as children".

Despite his professed anti-slavery stance, Jefferson only freed two slaves during his lifetime and five after his death. He also used slaves as collateral for loans and profited directly from the institution of slavery.

In summary, while Thomas Jefferson made some legislative attempts against slavery, his actions were often at odds with his stated beliefs. He was unable or unwilling to translate his opposition to slavery into concrete action, and his contributions to emancipation legislation were ultimately limited.

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