Thomas Jefferson Query 14 And 18 Analysis

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In Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State Virginia, Query 14 & 18 Jefferson uses the literary technique of compare and contrast as well as rhetorical questions to describe how white people are far more superior to slaves. However, by minimizing the validity of the African peoples beauty and way of life he only shows himself to be ignorant and insecure.As a result, Thomas Jefferson's Query 14 & 18 showcases the psychological disabilities that comes with “whiteness”.
On the first page of query 14 Jefferson states “Besides those of colour, figure, and hair, there are other physical distinctions proving a difference of race.” Correspondingly, Jefferson then goes to mentioning things like, how “they” have less hair or how they “secrete …show more content…

As a result, as Thomas Jefferson tries to slander the looks and inner workings of the black body, he, neglects the fact that Africans are from warmer climates there for must conserve all of the energy and food that they can so secreting more food from the body would be wasteful. Also, that if they had more hair on their bodies it would cause their internal body temperatures to go up. Additionally, he goes on to say that “They are at least (...)it be present.” (pg.2). Consequently, the reader one again sees how Jefferson makes the dispositional attribution area by thinking that the bravery and adventurousness of slave only stems from curiosity and not from the result of from lack of education by their masters or physical freedom. During this time period slaves were refused and education and if they tried to read for themselves they were beaten almost to death. Subsequently, because they could not read or write …show more content…

And so, as he inquires about the safety of America and its liberties he must take time to see how his role is crucial in americas potential downfall. In the paragraph of Query 18 Jefferson asks the question “can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?” This rhetorical question shows how the effects of groupthink and how it negatively affected the masses and allowed individuals like Jeffersons to encourage the act of slavery yet, use the idea of America and its government as a scapegoat. Additionally, by admitting that “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever:” Jefferson shows that he knows exactly what he is doing and that his actions have repercussions and that he has fell victim to Internalisation Conformity. Internalisation Conformity “when one adopts the ideas and actions of which it is composed - is intrinsically rewarding. He adopts the induced behavior because it is congruent [consistent] with his value system' (Kelman, 1958)” As readers read Query 18 they are able to see that although jefferson fears for the safety and the sanctity of his country he is unable to put a stop to slavery because of his enjoyment of being a master and his

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