7.02 Banneker Reading Quiz

Read the excerpt from "Benjamin Banneker Writes to Thomas Jefferson." (refer to the top of page 49 in your literature textbook)

"…that one universal Father hath given being to us all; and that he hath not only made us all of one flesh, but that he hath also, without partiality, afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties; and that however variable we may be in society or religion, however diversified in situation or color, we are all of the same family, and stand in the same relation to him" (Banneker 49).

What is the meaning of diversified?

• Different

• Random

• Equal

• Complex

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CCSS.L.11-12.4

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Read the following opening line from Banneker's letter (refer to page 48 in your literature textbook)

"I AM fully sensible of the greatness of that freedom, which I take with you on the present occasion; a liberty which seemed to me scarcely allowable, when I reflected on that distinguished and dignified station in which you stand, and the almost general prejudice and prepossession, which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion" (48).

What does Banneker mean by greatness?

• Bulkiness

• Importance

• Magnitude

• Renown

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Read this excerpt from Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson (refer to your literature textbook from pages 50-51):

          "Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind that time, in which the arms and tyranny of the British crown were exerted, with every powerful effort, in order to reduce you to a state of servitude: look back, I entreat you, on the variety of dangers to which you were exposed; reflect on that time, in which every human aid appeared unavailable, and in which even hope and fortitude wore the aspect of inability to the conflict, and you cannot but be led to a serious and grateful sense of your miraculous and providential preservation; you cannot but acknowledge, that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received, and that it is the peculiar blessing of Heaven.

          This, Sir, was a time when you clearly saw into the injustice of a state of slavery, and in which you had just apprehensions of the horrors of its condition. It was now that your abhorrence thereof was so excited, that you publicly held forth this true and invaluable doctrine, which is worthy to be recorded and remembered in all succeeding ages: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Here was a time, in which your tender feelings for yourselves had engaged you thus to declare, you were then impressed with proper ideas of the great violation of liberty, and the free possession of those blessings, to which you were entitled by nature; but, Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of Mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of these rights and privileges, which he hath conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren, under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves." (50-51)

How does Benjamin Banneker refine the meaning of the concept of 'liberty' in the last few lines of this excerpt? 

• Benjamin Banneker defines liberty as the ability to do whatever you want to anyone you want without consequences.

• Benjamin Banneker takes the words of the Declaration, and extends liberty to include all people, including those currently "under groaning captivity and cruel oppression."

• Benjamin Banneker points out that liberty is "the peculiar blessing of Heaven."

• Benjamin Banneker says liberty is being able to oppress others under captivity if they are found guilty of fraud.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

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CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Read the following excerpt from Banneker's letter (refer to your literature textbook page 51)

  "I suppose that your knowledge of the situation of my brethren is too extensive to need a recital here; neither shall I presume to prescribe methods by which they may be relieved, otherwise than by recommending to you and all others, to wean yourselves from those narrow prejudices which you have imbibed with respect to them, and as Job proposed to his friends, 'put your soul in their souls' stead'; thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them; and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others, in what manner to proceed herein." (Banneker 51)

What is the purpose of the phrase "Thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them" in the paragraph above?

• Banneker is using a metaphor to persuade Jefferson that if Jefferson was filled with more of the emotions of kindness and compassion towards the slaves, then he would oppose slavery.

• Banneker is saying that if his readers' physical hearts were large enough, they would care about the situation of the slaves.

• Banneker is encouraging slaves to fight for their freedom.

• 
  Answer 4 of 4 text

  Edit Answer 4 of 4 text

  Banneker is using figurative language to say that slaves are unhappy.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Read the following excerpt from Banneker's letter (Refer to your literature textbook page 50 for context).

"That I now confess to you, that I am not under that state of tyrannical thralldom, and inhuman captivity to which many of my brethren are doomed, but that I have abundantly tasted of the fruition of those blessings, which proceed from that free and unequalled liberty with which you are favored;" (p. 50)

Which of the following terms in the above quote have a negative connotation or tone?

• Tyrannical Thralldom

• Inhuman Captivity

• Unequal Liberty

• Doomed

• A, B, & D

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4