Stamped From The Beginning: Thomas Jefferson

The formation of the United States happened after the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, after Europeans developed their understanding of humanity. The artist and author of the chapter you read asserted that the founding fathers believed ____________ was the foundation of the perfect society.

• justice

• whiteness

• property

• freedom

The philosophers of the times argued that all humans are part of the same species and genus, but that the most prosperous ones had access to the most opportunities and resources. The people that were seen as lowest in society were victims of not having access to education, peace, and stability.

• True

• False

• The illest of all answers!

  (this option is incorrect and none of you should select it!)

What was the basic argument of Phillis Wheatley case and trial?

• Phillis' extreme beauty was proof that she was not an inferior person.

• Because her father was White, she was entitled to freedom.

• The laws of England required her immediate freedom.

• Her ability to write such beautiful poetry was proof of her equality and humanity.

Jefferson was clearly anti-slavery and wanted to use the Declaration of Independence and the new American government to ban slavery once and for all. The only reason he did not include all humans, all people, and communities as created equal was because more powerful founding fathers would not allow him to do so.

• True

• False

• Bald Eagles

  (no bald eagles are not hairless SEM students, and this is clearly a wrong answer... DON'T pick it)

As more and more free black people made the United States their home, racism set deeper into the American way of life. The suggested solution was

• to have Black people act more like White people.

• to have government officials pledge to be "color blind".

• to have a three tier social power system of:

  Most Power - White

  Some Power - Black

  No Power - Native

• to require Black people or intermarry with White people so that the two cultures could blend together.

To legitimate racist laws and policies, White officials tried to use science to prove that

• Black men were a danger to White men because historically, Black men were leaders of great civilizations.

• Black people had limited lifespans and thus could not think about the future or consequences.

• Black women were incapable of resisting their sexual desire for White men.

• Black people never developed a human sense of love for their children.

Jefferson's attempt to send freed black people to Africa was because

• he feared having to share land and power with Black Americans who he believed were never going to be culturally or intellectually equal to White people.

• He thought it was the only way to protect them from White rapists.

• Black people had asked him to help rebuild African communities.

• He felt bad that they had been stolen from their homelands

Jefferson struggled with his ideas about Black people thought his life. From the evidence left behind it seems that he died

• realizing that his one true love in life was his slave wife Sally Hemmings.

• after he freed all of his slaves.

• heartbroken that he had not ended slavery in the nation.

• in comfort as a rich powerful man who benefited because of his exploitation of black human beings that he considered inferior to humans like him.

Most students can do well in Mr. Velasquez's Ethnic Studies class even if they do not read the material he gives them, or watch the video he posts on the Google Classroom.

• True

• False

• The Los Angeles Dodgers!

  (While you SHOULD choose them to win the World Series, you should NOT choose them as the answer to this question.)

The Unit 1 project was due yesterday. A student that did not turn it in probably has a/an _ today.

• C

• D

• F

• Q