Henry Moss 1792 Quiz and Flashcards

According to the text, Samuel Stanhope Smith believed that improving the social environment would tap into the innate equality of humankind and dramatically uplift nonwhite races. This belief was influenced by

According to the text, Thomas Jefferson believed that Black people were incapable of mental improvement and that they might even have a separate ancestry. This belief was known as

According to the text, many Americans believed that nature had made the white and Black races too different to peacefully coexist. As a solution to America's racial problem, they viewed

According to the text, what was the significance of the white spots that appeared on Henry Moss' body in 1792?

According to the text, which scientists did Henry Moss meet and what did they believe about his condition?

According to the text, what tension arose due to Enlightenment thinkers' desire to classify and order the natural world?

Samuel Stanhope Smith's Beliefs

Samuel Stanhope Smith believed that improving the social environment would tap into the innate equality of humankind and dramatically uplift nonwhite races.
His belief was likely influenced by Enlightenment ideas emphasizing human perfectibility and the potential for social progress.

Thomas Jefferson's Beliefs

Thomas Jefferson believed that Black people were incapable of mental improvement and that they might even have a separate ancestry.
This belief was known as polygenesis, the theory that different human races originated from different ancestors.

The Racial Divide in America

Many Americans believed that nature had made the white and Black races too different to peacefully coexist.
As a solution to America's racial problem, they viewed colonization or even the complete removal of Black people from the United States as necessary.

Henry Moss's Condition

The appearance of white spots on Henry Moss's body in 1792 was a significant event, because it was interpreted by some as a sign of racial transformation, suggesting that Black people could potentially become white.
Henry Moss met with scientists, such as Dr. Benjamin Rush and Dr. Caspar Wistar, who believed his condition was a result of a natural process called "albinism," which affects pigmentation.

The Tension of Classification

The Enlightenment's desire to classify and order the natural world, which included the study of humans and their variations, created tension.
This tension arose because the pursuit of knowledge about racial differences could be used to justify existing social hierarchies and perpetuate inequality.

Discover the incredible story of Henry Moss, a once-enslaved man who turned visibly white in the 18th century. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on his journey to becoming a famous curiosity in Philadelphia and his encounters with renowned scientists of the time.