A Summary View of the Rights of British America was a tract written by Thomas Jefferson in 1774, before the U.S.
But previous to the enfranchisement of the slaves we have, it is necessary to exclude all further importations from Africa; yet our repeated attempts to effect this by prohibitions, and by imposing duties which might amount to a prohibition, have been hitherto defeated by his majesty's negative: Thus preferring the immediate advantages of a few African corsairs to the lasting interests of the American states, and to the rights of human nature, deeply wounded by this infamous practice.
"[2] The work was presented to, and debated by, the First Continental Congress, which convened in the colonial-era capital of Philadelphia.
Despite this moderation of his proposals, Jefferson's friends published Summary in pamphlet form, and it was subsequently distributed throughout London, New York, and Philadelphia.
Research states that the document "helped establish Jefferson's reputation as a skillful, if radical, political writer.