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1) What was Jefferson's intention, considering the fact that he writes an attack towards slaveholders while holding enslaved people himself?
This makes me think of the vast hypocrisy in this country today. How does the foundation of Jefferson's words parallel with the words from leaders today?

2) There are many historical events that occurred between the beginning years of America. What else was occurring in the year 1781 that could have inspired Jefferson to write this document?

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Is the author insinuating Columbus’ journey to America was driven by the devil? If so, what does this reveal about the author’s interpretation and opinion of American colonialism?

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Why does Jefferson say that the slave's spirit is rising from the dust? Is there any basis for this claim or is he assuming this and using it to dramatize his argument?

Was the goal of this piece to encourage people to fight for emancipation or to persuade slave holders to free them? Would what he said be enough for the latter to happen?

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- How does the speaker's relationship with western religion affect the interpretation  of America's discovery?
- How does this interpretation of America's discovery work in favor with the author's message/purpose?

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How do the stories shared by former President Obama help contribute to the overall message being conveyed in the commencement speech?

Why do you think former President Obama chose to include the stories he did in the commencement speech?

Would the message in the commencement speech change at all if it was written today?

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Thomas Jefferson was known to have enslaved 100’s of people, through his tone in the expert do you believe he regrets that decision?

Jefferson discusses his fear of God punishing the U.S. for slavery. In a deeply religious country, would have this warning been enough to stop the brutalities of slavery?

If Jefferson believes it is immoral to beat a slave in front of his white children, do you think he believes it is immoral to beat a slave in front of a child slave?

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What political issues does Obama’s commencement speech focus on and how does this reflect the state that the country is in?

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1.) Why do you think Jefferson emphasizes the idea of man being an imitative animal so much?
2.) How does the concept of religion play into the beliefs of emancipation in this time period?

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What was the motive to write a piece condemning slavery when you are an actor in the process as well?

Why was this rhetoric not followed through subsequently when Jefferson became President 20 years later?

Why use religion as the instigator/decider for the morality of slavery in America?

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Ironic how monetary bills say  “In God we trust”  but according to this, was it meant to be “In the Devil We Trust”?

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What comment is being made, specifically regarding religion, when it is revealed that the man in the golden palace is actually the devil?

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Would you agree that is being portrayed similarly to the garden of eden?
Is this piece saying that Columbus was inspired by the devil?

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How would Obama's speech differ if it were written in 2021? Would the message still be received well? Would his/our opinions change?

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Jefferson uses religion as an argument condemning slavery in this statement, saying that God’s “judgement can not sleep forever.” Why was this a strong and powerful statement during this time period and was this statement enough to change people’s outlook on slavery?

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Why was this written?
Why was the colonization of America written this way?

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For being such a critical proponent of slavery, why did Thomas Jefferson own over 600 slaves during his lifetime?

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1.Why is manner imitation a problem?
2.Why is it important that all citizens have the same amount of rights?
3.Why does Thomas Jefferson mentions that it is critical that emancipation happens in the order of events, and not by their extirpation?

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When they thought he was on earth, was he still seen as a Godly unattainable figure or was it more similar to a celebrity?

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1) In 2006, Senator Obama was speaking to the 2006 graduating class and noted during his speech that “America is an unlikely place - a country built on defiance of the odds”, and goes on to say that it was up to this next generation to maintain just that. Given that this speech took place in a different time period than the one we live in today, would former President Obama’s views have changed at all?

2) When Senator Obama discussed America as a “city upon a hill”, would he have agreed that he meant it in the priestly perspective  (meaning that the United States is an example for all countries to recreate), or would he identify with the Prophetic perspective that the United States of America is infallible and will require further progress before becoming a country for all to mimic?

3) Senator Obama places great emphasis on the graduates to take risks, stay global, cultivate a sense of empathy, and remain amazed about the world, but paradoxically Obama references  “that the inner-city children who are trapped in the nation's most dilapidated schools”, which is not solely an ideational issue, but also a structural issue within society. Having noted this disparity of an acknowledged system in the here and now that will disadvantage these students and future university students relative to their peers, is there something the senator and former president could offer as a solution to combating this educational problem that goes beyond inspiration, but substance?

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Why does the author use religious references to describe the actions of the American colonists?

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Obama emphasises that there has been a lot of change in the years prior to 2006, and that “things are better than they were yesterday”. Would he stand by that statement if he were to give the same speech in 2021?

Throughout the speech Obama expresses his view on globalization and how there is opportunity present in all parts of the world. What can we assume he is implying with the quote, "No longer can we assume that a high-school education in Boston is enough to compete for a job that could easily go to a college-educated student in Bangalore or Beijing.”?

Why was Obama’s speech especially effective to a young audience? How did the writing style and techniques help to single out the graduating class of  UMass 2006 and convey a message of optimism?

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1. Is the young man malevolent, or simply ignorant and easily tricked?
2. What is blood corruption?
3. The young man is seen as viewing the trade between a well lived life for money and power to be a “good bargain”. Is the narrator trying to convey that the Natives valued a well lived life, while the Europeans valued material possessions, despite being self proclaimed religious?

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Does Obama’s ground up story work to diminish the experience of those born into poverty and who stay impoverished, or does it work to uplift those same people and show them that the American dream is achievable?

How would Obama’s free-spirited traveling and philanthropic work look like if he were a woman? What would change about the situation, and would he have been as willing to drop everything and leave as he did before his presidency?

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