DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE-ORIGINAL WORDING THE ANTI SLAVE TRADE SENTIMENT INFLUENCED THOMAS JEFFERSON’S FIRST DRAFT OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IN WHICH HE INDICTED THE KING OF ENGLAND, GEORGE III, FOR PROMOTING THE SLAVE TRADE ON THE COLONISTS. “THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE CLAIMED THAT, KING GEORGE III WAGED CRUEL WAR AGAINST HUMAN NATURE ITSELF, VIOLATING ITS’ MOST SACRED RIGHTS OF LIFE LIBERTY IN THE PERSONS OF A DISTANT PEOPLE WHO NEVER OFFENDED HIM, CAPTIVATING AND CARRYING THEM INTO SLAVERY IN ANOTHER HEMISPHERE, OR TO INCUR MISERABLE DEATH IN THEIR TRANSPORTATION THITER.” THIS IS A PASSAGE FROM THE DECLARATION THAT THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS STRUCKAND DID NOT WANT TO LIST SLAVERY FOR FEAR THAT AFTER THE WAR, THE NEW NATION MIGHT BE CALLED TO ABOLISH SLAVERY. THE PASSAGE REMAINS SIGNIFICANT FOR SHOWING THAT JEFFERSON DID “REGARD AFRICANS AS MEN…BOUGHT AND SOLD ,WHO WERE SUBJECT TO THE DECLARATION’S PRINCIPLES THAT ALL MEN “ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS”.