Core Values that Were the Basis for the American Revolution

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Core values that were the basis for the American Revolution and ongoing efforts to further expand and strengthen our nation was and still is Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, We fought for the Common Good, Justice, and Equality. The question is whether or not these democratic ideals were sought to be expanded by reformers during the time period of 1825-1850. The validity of the statement, “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals” can be assessed using these three reformations or movements: the Abolitionist movement, the women’s rights movement, and the reformation of the Naturalization Law. The Naturalization Law did not expand these democratic ideals, the women’s rights movement did expand these democratic ideals, and the Abolitionist movement very much so expanded these democratic ideals (or core democratic values). Slavery was a peculiar institution.

Abolitionists were people in the mid-1800s who dedicated themselves to the abolition of slavery in the United States. Almost completely northern-based, abolitionists dealt with strong opposition in the early years of their moral campaign, most of that opposition coming from southern-folk. Among these great reformers were Frederick Douglass, a freed slave who became literate, and William Lloyd Garrison, a very radical abolitionist who converted many people to abolitionism. Slavery propaganda floating about in the mid-1800s displayed slaves pleading, “Am I not a Woman and a Sister? (Document C)” and, “Am I not a Man and a Brother?” which exemplified the push for equality among races (whites and blacks in particular), liberty, justice, and life—all core democratic values—that the Abolitionists were trying to achieve. Given the intentions of...

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...eform movement does not make the statement viable that reform movements during this time period looked to expand democratic ideals. The Know-Nothing party was almost as bad as the institution on the basis of equality.

African Americans, women, and foreign emigrants all faced mistreatment, unfairness, and abuse in the United States from 1825-1850. Abolitionist movements, along with woman’s rights reformations, sought to expand democratic ideals in many aspects. Equality, Life, Liberty, and Justice—all core democratic values—were sought to become better engraved in the United States. The reformation of the Naturalization Law lessened all of these values, by trying to not let foreigners take part, vote, in American politics. Taking all of this into consideration, the statement, “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals” is quite valid.

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