Thoughts Upon Slavery (1774)
a year ago
- #ethics
- #history
- #slavery
- Definition and nature of slavery as described by John Wesley, highlighting its perpetual service, arbitrary power of masters, and hereditary transmission.
- Historical overview of slavery's origins, prevalence among ancient civilizations, decline in Europe post-Christianity, and revival with the discovery of America and Africa.
- Description of Guinea (Africa) as a fertile and pleasant land, countering misconceptions of it being barren or horrid, with detailed accounts of its regions and peoples.
- Portrayal of African societies as organized, industrious, and morally upright, challenging stereotypes of Africans as brutish or uncivilized.
- Methods of procuring slaves, including fraud, force, and inciting wars among Africans, with personal accounts of the violence and devastation caused.
- Conditions of the Middle Passage, detailing the horrific treatment, high mortality rates, and inhumane stowage of slaves during transport to America.
- Treatment of slaves in American plantations, including harsh labor, severe punishments, and the legal framework that supported such cruelty.
- Moral and ethical arguments against slavery, questioning its compatibility with justice, mercy, and Christian principles.
- Call to action for those involved in the slave trade—captains, merchants, and planters—to cease their participation and consider the moral consequences.
- Appeal to divine justice and mercy, praying for the liberation and better treatment of enslaved Africans.