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Video

Prince Hall Freedom Petition | Primary Source Essentials

Grade: 8–12
Duration: 3 min
Topics: Slavery
Published: Jan 14, 2025

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About this video

How did enslaved individuals use natural rights arguments to fight for freedom? In this episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials, delve into the 1777 Prince Hall Freedom Petition to the Massachusetts legislature. Learn how Prince Hall and other petitioners asserted their natural and unalienable rights, condemning slavery as a violation of their humanity and liberty. Explore their efforts to claim ownership of their rights and the broader emancipation movement that emerged in northern states after the Revolution. Discover the lasting impact of these arguments in confronting the paradox of slavery and freedom in the American Republic.

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