Contemporary critics denounced the Patriots’ freedom rhetoric as hypocritical while they enslaved people

Evidence

The truth is that we might never have revolted against Britain if some of the founders had not understood that slavery empowered them to do so; nor if they had not believed that independence was required in order to ensure that the institution would continue unmolested. For this duplicity—claiming they were fighting for freedom while enslaving a fifth of the people—the Patriots faced burning criticism both at home and abroad. As Samuel Johnson, an English writer opposed to American independence, quipped, “How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” — Nikole Hannah-Jones et al., The 1619 Project, 103

Categorization

• CANDY: The Samuel Johnson quote is a perfect talk-topic fact: a single devastating line exposing revolutionary hypocrisy.
• XREF: connects to: Americans glorified liberty radiating outward more than receiving the oppressed