Thesis: The Society of the Friends of Blacks uses the ideas of freedom and equality implemented by the National Assembly shortly after the French Revolution to convince them to end the slave trade.
І. Using their own ideas
A. History of New Assembly
1. Rights of Man
a. Declared all men are born free and equal
b. Restored rights to French people that despotism has denied
c. Broken the chains of feudalism
d. Destroyed distinctions set on by religious or political prejudices
2. Important Question
a. Should this apply to whites alone, while blacks are still in chains?
ІІ. Slander used against them
A. Greed
1. Shipowners
a. Their own greed makes them stir people against them
b. Want to provoke planters
c. Convince the French that prosperity of colonies depends on slave trade
ІІІ. Moderate Demands
A. End of Slave Trade
1. Not an end to slavery itself
a. Ending slavery abruptly would be bad for blacks
b. It would be an abandonment
2. End the slaughter
a. Simply don’t want thousands of Africans to die simply to get a few hundred captives
B. Easier Way
1. Ease burden on slaves in West Indies
a. If you did not work them to death, they would reproduce
b. You wouldn’t have to get new captives from Africa
c. It would be better for both slave and master in the long run
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