John Lauren Research Paper

Words: 1023
Pages: 5

John Laurens is not a common name that comes up in discussions about anti-slavery in early America. He’s not even a common name in our history books for being an American patriot, yet he did what many famous patriots in the American Revolution didn't. He died for our country at the age of 27, a year after the American Revolution actually ended (Under 5). Through Laurens’ beliefs that he developed in his early life, he had so much potential to change American slavery policies. “You know, my dear son, I abhor (hate) slavery.” Henry Laurens wrote to his son, John Laurens (H. Laurens 20). Before John Laurens was born, his father, Henry Laurens, was a massive slave trader (Unger 7). In fact, Henry Laurens became the largest slave trader in America …show more content…
“I am devising means for manumitting (setting free) many of them, and for cutting off the entail of slavery. Great powers oppose me — the laws and customs of my country, my own and the avarice (extreme greed) of my countrymen.” Henry Laurens wrote (H. Laurens 21). Henry Laurens faced problems with freeing his slaves, especially with depriving his children of “free estate” which were his slaves (H. Laurens 21). He doesn’t take any action on freeing them (Gieger 2:00). Henry Laurens’ problems eventually affect John Laurens’ plans to enlist slaves. During early life, everyone develops their opinions and how they feel about certain topics. Laurens’ life is no different. John Laurens was born the oldest of five children on October 27, 1754 on a plantation in South Carolina (Unger 5). Laurens’ normal childhood tragically came to an end when his mother, Eleanor Laurens, passed away; Laurens was only sixteen when this happened (Under 15). Henry Laurens, John Laurens’s father, is now distraught on how to raise his kids. Not knowing what to do, Henry Laurens sent his three sons to England (Geiger 1:28). John Laurens eventually decided to go to Geneva, Switzerland for his schooling (Under