Question

questions 11 through 13 refer to the following. the position of a great number of blacks detained in a state of slavery in the bowels of a free and christian country humbly showeth that your petitioners apprehend that they have it common with all other men a natural and inalienable right to that freedom which the great parent of the universe hath bestowed equally on all mankind. they were unjustly dragged by the hand of cruel power from a populous, pleasant, and plentiful country and in violation of laws of nature and of nations. your petitioners cannot but express their astonishment that it has never been considered that every principle from which america has acted in the course of their unhappy difficulties with great britain pleads stronger than a thousand arguments in favor of your petitioners. they therefore humbly beseech your honors to give this petition its due weight and consideration and cause an act of the legislature to be passed whereby they may be restored to the enjoyment of that which is the natural right of all men - and their children who were born in this land of liberty may not be held as slaves after they arrive at the age of twenty - one years. petition to the massachusetts state legislature, 1777. 11. which of the following describes an overall argument of the excerpt? (a) slavery is not economically important for the northern colonies. (b) slavery is contrary to the ideals of the american revolution. (c) enslaved africans should be rewarded for their loyalty to great britain. (d) enslaved africans should be returned to africa.

Explanation:

The excerpt from the 1777 petition to the Massachusetts state legislature emphasizes the natural and inalienable rights of enslaved Blacks, drawing on the ideals of freedom and equality. This aligns with the ideals of the American Revolution which were about liberty and natural rights. It doesn't focus on the economic importance of slavery in the northern colonies, nor does it discuss rewarding enslaved Africans for loyalty to Britain or returning them to Africa.

Answer:

B. Slavery is contrary to the ideals of the American revolution