Slavery in the time of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment was a conflict debated among the French intellectuals. The National Assembly in the Declaration of the Rights of Man adopted “All men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” This did not give political rights to slaves, mulattoes or freed Black people. French planter used slaves to maintain their sugar and coffee plantations. Some felt slaves were needed for economic, political and social order reasons. Slaves were there to complete the work that others (white men) would not do themselves. Others felt that slaves had a right to their own liberty and freedom because of social order, economic and political reasons. They thought it would be in the best interest to allow them to live as free men did and that it was an injustice to not include these people because of the color of their skin.
Many Intellectuals felt that slavery was weighing down the economy, and that political social unrest was a result of not abiding under the constitution they said All men should be equal. They thought that everything happens to let humans enjoy dignity and that you could not take away a persons natural dignity of liberty. (Doc 1) Voltaire felt that one hundre
d thousand slaves sacrificed their lives to gratify our appetites for such items that were of no importance before. What would we need them now? (Doc 2) Rousseau believed it to be inhumane to see with horror and pity what one fourth of people were left to endure, grieving to be a human. (Doc 3) Why should anyone destroy natures work, there is no discord between day and night why should there be between the slight indifference of a persons skin. All of such is inclusive in the beauty of nature. (Doc 7) These slaves are only considered as a barbaric price of trade. All others have the capacity of suffering and someday others will hold compassion to these people. (Doc 8) Many explained that it was not fair to place political oppression upon these slaves. Twenty white people should not have the authority to represent the people of color. No justice was in 23,000 white people oppressing their fellow citizens representation. (Doc 9) Robespierre did not want to destroy the Constitution. He declared the entire nation wished to be free and that they would not sacrifice to colonial deputies. (Doc 15) These people defended the right of the people of color in hopes for true equality, social justice, and in human right.
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