Slavery In America Research Paper

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America was founded upon principles such as equality, the idea that all men are to be treated equally and given equal rights. Other principles like unalienable God-given rights, and the right to be happy. Principles like these are what America stood for, justice for all; a place where all who sought refuge could come and be treated as one. Our statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom of our country reads, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" But is it really what America stands for today or stood for in the past? Since the beginning of our great nation, America has been bigoted towards numerous groups of people. In …show more content…

Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of lucrative crops such as tobacco and cotton. African American slaves were considered only 3/5 of a person when it came to census. None of the rights listed in the constitution were given to the slaves and when they tried to escape into the north for freedom, many times there were very harsh punishments. They were denied the right to assemble and petition the government. The southern states made laws, (Jim Crow laws) which denied the right for African Americans to own guns and gave them curfews. There were plenty of other abuses; such as unreasonable searches and seizure of property; the Constitution protected slavery and legalized racial subordination. Slaves were governed by “slave codes” that controlled every aspect of their lives. They had no access to the rule of law; they could not go to court, make contracts, or own any property. They could be whipped, branded, imprisoned without trial, and

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