Study Guide for Week 6
Assigned Documents
1. JEFFERSON, Thomas.
"The Difference is Fixed in Nature," excerpts from his Notes on the State of Virginia (1787).
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
was the third President of the United States (1801-1809) and the principal
author of the "Declaration of Independence." We figure that you
probably do not need much of an initial introduction to Jefferson, in contrast
to someone like Pereira or even Las Casas.
For this reading, click here.
Questions:
1. In the assigned reading
from Jefferson, Jefferson speaks of slavery in his Virginia (and the US) as
objectionable. What, specifically, are the objections given in his text? Be sure to ground your answer with
well-chosen quotations from the text.
2. Jefferson repeatedly
claims that “blacks” are inferior to “whites,” and that the difference is,
he says, most likely “fixed in nature.” Reading through the entire
document, identify any portions of the text in which Jefferson offers an argument
(meaning some combination of evidence and reason) to support his racist views (as
distinct from places where he simply asserts his racist views). Summarize any such argument or arguments,
using aptly selected quotations. (Please note that the key to a
successful response here is being sure you understand the distinction between an
“argument” and an “assertion”; if you have questions about this, ask.)