“The petition of A Great Number of Blackes detained in a State of slavery in the Bowels of a free & Christian Country Humbly shuwith that your Petitioners apprehend that thay have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unaliable Right to that freedom which the Grat Parent of the Unavers hath Bestowed equalley on all menkind and which they have Never forfuted by any Compact or agreement whatever—but thay wher Unjustly Dragged by the hand of cruel Power from their Derest friends and sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their tender Parents—from A popolous Pleasant and plentiful contry and in violation of Laws of Nature and off Nations and in defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity Brough hear Either to Be sold Like Beast of Burthen & Like them Condemnd to Slavery for Life—Among A People Profesing the mild Religion of Jesus A people Not Insensible of the Secrets of Rational Being Nor without spirit to Resent the unjust endeavours of others to Reduce them to a state of Bondage and Subjection your honouer Need not to be informed that A Life of Slavery Like that of your petioners Deprived of Every social privilege of Every thing Requisit to Render Life Tolable is far worse then Nonexistence.”
This is a petition written to the Counsel & House of Representatives for the Senate of Massachusetts by eight slaves fighting for their freedom. General Court was essembled in Massachusetts Bay on January 13 of 1777. Through out the 17th to the 19th century hundreds of thousands of African Americans were held against their will. Slavery destroyed families.
Sources: “Slave Petition for Freedom to the Massachusetts Legislature,” January 13, 1777
Immigration has shaped this Country 
You should expand this post. You should talk about how slavery destroyed families, what was the use of slaves in the north, why were these slaves trying to get their freedom.
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This is another quote that can be difficult for people to read. Try to dissect it piece by piece and explain what everything means. Otherwise, good!
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At this point, this slave and the white people petitioning were all born on this continent. Do they count as immigrants?
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