“The Declaration of Independence and the Struggle for Equality DBQ” “In what way and to what extent does the Declaration of Independence serve as a benchmark for the actions of disenfranchised or otherwise oppressed citizens of the United States of America?” The Declaration of Independence, since July 4th, 1776, has continued to always become a guideline to protect those who are oppressed. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, “that all Men are created equal,” that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,”” (Doc. A) sets the standards on what the United States of America is all about; equality. From the Report of American Horse by D.F. Royer on November 27, 1890 to the “Reminder Day” for Homosexual Rights on July 4, 1968, the Declaration of Independence continues to be the anchor document for many other documents to support those who are tyrannized from their rights. In the Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage of 1787, President of the Society, Benjamin Franklin states, “It having pleased the Creator of the world, to make of one flesh, all the children of men – it becomes them to consult and promote each other’s happiness, as members of the same family, however diversified they may be, by color, situation, religion, or different states of society.” (Doc. B). Mr. Franklin talks about how if we are to please God, we all need to act as one huge family despite whatever race, religion, financial income, etc. Throughout Document B, Benjamin Franklin continues to speak that a Christian’s obligation should extend their power to everyone and express the true meaning of freedom. “And who acknowledge the oblig... ... middle of paper ... ...new the battle which their fathers began” (Doc. F). Overall, the Declaration of Independence, drafted by the United States of America, has not only become an anchor to protect those against oppression and tyranny, but from others within this precious country, as well as those outside. With the Declaration of Independence, we have motivated other nations to take action against their very own tyranny, whether it be the Egyptians in their revolution against their corrupt government in modern day or the French in the mid to late 1800s against their very own corrupt monarchy against King Louis and his family. Not only has it become a motivator, but a reminder on how we should appreciate our values and morals today, and take note on every action we take against certain issues on our country; whether the issue is on abortion or gay marriage. All Men are Created Equally.
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Show MoreThe Founding Fathers created the Declaration of Independence with the intention of establishing a country based on equality. Despite this intention, women were purposely left out. The first few lines of the Declaration of Independence show inequality instantly: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” (“Declaration of Independence”). The usage of “men” immediately disregards the whole other half of the population—women. What happened to them? Why were they deliberately excluded? As students, people learn that the American Revolution brought Americans independence and equality, but it is conspicuous that it did not bring everyone equality. Despite the Seneca Falls Convention and the fact that women have
The United States of America's Declaration of Independence is the origin of the United States of America's Constitution and the United States of America Bill of Rights. It is the beginning of the United States of America in many, if not all, forms. Because of the Declaration of Independence, the United States of America was able to form a strong and lasting form of government from its start. Beginning in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was accepted, America was free of the foreign power of Great Britain, however, in 1787 when the United States of America Constitution was ratified America began abiding by the form of government Americans had long awaited. Because of the Declaration of Independence, America had, has and will always have a strong governmental foundation.
Women did not benefit from the Declaration of Independence, despite the assertion that the declaration would further equality throughout the nation. The Declaration of Independence did not discuss women’s rights and what Independence would mean for them. Thomas Jefferson did not disclose any information about women in his writing of the declaration. The declaration granted all white males the right to vote, but women did not receive the same right. How can the Declaration of Independence argue that it brought equality when women were not granted equal rights to men? Elaine Crane supports this view and shares the view of Charles Brown in her writings where she writes “Brown argued through his protagonist that the denial of the vote to women violated “pretensions to equality and
America’s Declaration of Independence has profoundly affected the foundation of the United States more than any other event or document in American history. The Declaration of Independence was and still is the basis for what the country is established on. July 4th of 1776, Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States was chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence. His purpose was to persuade the colonists of the thirteen colonies to break away from England. The document reports and emphasizes on the reasons as to why the colonists should declare their independence. Thomas Jefferson expresses that the way the people of the thirteen colonies are being treated unfairly is not the way they should be treated (Jefferson
...e colonists frustration with Britain; it was in actuality a “public confession of treason” which meant death and confiscation of estate for one found guilty (Ellis 104) at that time. If one really thinks about it, the men who signed the Declaration risked loosing the very rights stated in the document. The document stated that their creator had given life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They risked their lives, freedom and property to gain independence from the Crown and to have freedoms of their own. These freedoms included, freedom to run their own country as they saw fit, freedom to live life in the manner they chose, freedom to form their own laws and regulations, and many more. Men, who risked death for treason in writing it, wrote this Declaration, and because of them we all enjoy our freedom and ability to have choices. The document not only played a role in gaining independence from Great Britain, but it played a role in the abolition of slavery, in equal rights for African-Americans and women, and many more. We should all be proud of the Declaration. It is a document the United States formed on and its contents definitely hold true value even today more than ever.
Friedenwald, Herbert. The Declaration of Independence: An Interpretation and an Analysis. New York: Da Capo Press, 1974.
In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence it states, “ that all men are created equal”. Right now in the states of the USA, it is obvious that not all men are being treated equal. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed on July 4, 1776. This day is now remembered as Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence was written to separate the colonies from Great Britain. The colonists fought for their independence. Today, still not all men are created equal. There is still racism going on all over the US. Still, there is inequality between the rich and the poor.
The Declaration of Independence is arguably the most powerful document every written in the history of our country. Our founding fathers were strong and brave men who decided that they would no longer step aside and let Great Britain take advantage of the colonies. In this powerful document our founding fathers outlined why the colonies had decided to leave Great Britain, the philosophical reasons for leaving, the grievances done against the colonies, and then ends with explaining the dissolve from Great Britain and their new found rights as a separate independent state. As the great Thomas Jefferson said, “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
The declaration of Independence was written up in 1776 by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. Three of these men (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) are known for being part of the founding fathers. At this period of time, America was in conflict with Great Britain for freedom and at the same time it was also part of the age of enlightenment. Until today, the Declaration of Independence remains the most important writing in America, and American history. It separated the colonies from the rule of King George the third, gave the United States a fundamental ideal way of government based on natural rights, and it gave America its own cultural identity.
The American Declaration of Independence is perhaps the most meaningful and important document in the history of America. The main section of this document which is incompatible with the concept of slavery and shows a falsity is during the discussion of human rights and liberties. The Declaration stated ‘that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ this statement iterates that under legal rule all men were to obtain uniform freedom, the fact that the word ‘unalienable’ was used is a major contradiction to slavery, ‘unalienable rights are incapable of being lost or sold’ they are ultimately undeniable, yet these rights were denied to the black slaves. These entitlements were supposedly ubiquitous to every human being, however human beings in this sense were ‘all free, white, property-owning males’ black slaves were not observed as human ...
Freedom has always been something that Americans greatly value. The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal”, and one of the lines in the national anthem boasts that the United States is “the land of the free”. However, looking back to when these documents were created, few statements could have been further from the truth. The treatment of many groups in America’s history proves that the country has not always been “land of the free”.
The American Declaration of Independence has affected the foundation of the United States more than any other event or document in American history. The Declaration of Independence was the basis for what the country was established on. The document was a way for the colonists to emancipate themselves from the cruelty of King George. This document had such an impacting effect because it was such a new way of bringing up concerns. It was the first of its kind in the history of America in the aspect of liberation of a group of people.
Intro: The Declaration of Independence shapes our ideal vision in America by letting every individual have unalienable rights, not having to live under a tyrant, and having equality. These rights are to be protected by one government that is willing to secure these rights for the people. Due to not being responsible towards the people’s happiness, this government will be overthrown and replaced with a new one in which the people will be satisfied with.
The ‘American dream’ didn’t envisage equality, in that equal opportunites necessarily generate equal outcomes. Justice, liberty and the inherent opportunities, enshrined within the Declaration of Independence - all men are created equal - are entirely different concepts. Justice can provide liberty, but liberty doesn’t provide equality but individual opportunity. When combined, they become abstracts; beliefs of what should be and change to government dependency and not individualistic effort.
One of the most important parts of the Declaration of independence is: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”. The declaration of independence was written and signed in 1776, but still, equality was not something all people could even think about in America. In 1619, the first slave-trading took place in America. This got more and more usual. Black people was brought and sold to American factories and for other