Introduction

In 1829, the pamphlet Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World was published in Massachusetts and began to circulate throughout the country. In his pamphlet, David Walker, a free Black man, explained why slavery should be immediately eradicated from the United States and asked White Americans if they had forgotten the very principles used to justify the nation’s existence. Walker attempted to appeal to his readers by using the exact language of the Declaration of Independence. However, while the Declaration of Independence and the principles it promoted were celebrated, Walker’s pamphlet was labeled the “most notorious document in America.”

In this interactive lesson, you will learn about the concept of radical resistance, analyze excerpts from both the Declaration of Independence and Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, and explain how Walker used the language of the Declaration of Independence to justify the abolition of slavery. At the end of the interactive lesson, you will be asked to respond to the essential question.

Essential Question

How did Black abolitionists use the Declaration of Independence in their fight against slavery?