1776 - Human Rights, Social Justice

Human Rights, Social Justice

Members of Parliament hear the first motion to outlaw slavery in Britain and her colonies (see 1772). David Hartley, 44, calls slavery "contrary to the laws of God and the rights of man," but his motion fails (see Wilberforce, 1787; Wilberforce, 1789).

Delaware forbids further importation of slaves as the slave population in the colonies reaches 500,000.

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident," says the 1,335-word Declaration of Independence, "that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government . . ." Thomas Jefferson's draft has been edited to delete an attack on slavery (with the single exception of John Adams, every man who signs the declaration owns—or has owned—slaves). Abigail Adams has written to her husband, John, "[A]nd by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could [she uses no quotation marks but is using a line from the late Daniel Defoe that is known to her husband]. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a revolution, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation." When John Adams denies her petition and calls her saucy, she retorts, "I can not say that I think you very generous to the Ladies for whilst you are proclaiming peace and goodwill to Men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining absolute power over Wives."

New Jersey adopts a constitution July 2 that reaffirms the right of women worth $250 or more to vote, a privilege they will enjoy until 1807 (but see New York, 1777).