leted Huckleberry Finn in 1884, at a time when black identity in American society was undefined. Even though blacks had been granted citizenship in 1870 by the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, Southern white society still looked upon them as sub-human creatures without souls or feelings. However, for his time Twain was liberal on racial issues. The themes of Huckleberry Finn portray Mark Twain 's unrelenting belief in the equality of all races.
             Carl Wieck makes a very interesting connection in his book between Thomas Jefferson's personal beliefs that it was "self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. . ." and the attitudes of Mark Twain in his novel. Wieck is convinced that Twain follows Jefferson's lead when it become evident that Jim and Huck are equal as human beings despite their differences; that they both have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore a government that does not respect those rights towards all of
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