North Carolina Image Analysis

One of the most important parts of the Declaration of Independence is its preamble, and, more specifically, certain phrases contained within the preamble. Thomas Jefferson does an excellent job of explaining why the colonies are doing the things they are doing, and is very clear in stating what he and his associates think are the “unalienable rights” of the American people. Among these are “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Probably one of the most famous lines in American history, I have chosen to focus on this phrase and what those three things might have meant to Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers as they prepared this document, as well as what they mean to us today.

By 1963, the Washington D.C. public schools had been integrated, as had the military, the federal work force, and public accommodations in the city, but the racial controversy was still an ongoing debate around the nation. Marion Trikosko’s photograph titled “Signs Carried by Many Marchers, During the March on Washington” was taken on August 28, 1963 during the march for jobs and freedom at the District of Columbia. It is one of the pictures in the “Civil Rights- A Long Road” collection from the Library of Congress that depicts a group consisted of mainly Black people who walked in lines while carrying “We demand…” and “We march for…” signs. The photographer captured the essential repetition in the signs’ designs, a variety of peoples’ actions, and the movement of the crowd in order to signify the united formation and strong dedication of the marchers to fight for civility and liberty.

The death of a young African American male in 1955 haunted the south and the African American society. Images of Emmett Till hanging in a tree were plastered on television and in newspapers for Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, and David Richmond to see while attending North Carolina A & T College in 1960. These four African American men would soon become known as the Greensboro Four after instigating a sit-in at a Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their courage and determination ignited a movement to end segregation not only in their state but across the nation. History was being made that day as the young men sat at the counter, customers inside watching as the events unfolded, and the impact of this incident permeating across American’s eyes.

Blackwell had gotten a job for the Jackson Daily News as an apprentice to Pulitzer Prize winner, Jack Thornell. M. J. O’Brien states in is book, We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jackson Woolworth’s Sit-In and the Movement It Inspired, that “Since Blackwell knew many of the high school kids causing the ruckus, Blackwell found it somewhat strange being on the other side of the camera, shooting images of his neighbors during this surreal event.” Blackwell’s photograph, while confounding, symbolizes the insensible cruelties protesters faced while questioning racial discrimination. The panoramic view displays a perspective from the counter, as if one were sitting beside the peaceful protesters being taunted and threatened. The audience is able to watch the spectacle from a sit at the counter, so they are able to experience the cruelties themselves. In the far left corner, an animated donut department advertisement can be seen behind the white mob. The element depicts a sense of “fun” as students torture their fellow classmates. The sign amid all the chaos shows the contrast between innocent playfulness and violent abuse. In the right corner of the picture, a small American flag looms over the crowd. The flag represents freedom and equality which becomes a symbol of irony. The students sitting at the counter fight for racial equality, yet the crowd bombards them with brutality. Next to the flag, just cut off, is another photographer standing above the crowd in order to get the perfect angle. Although he has no bravery to stand up against the adversaries, the photographer, just like Blackwell, are as helpless as the police waiting outside. The photographers were considered about their own safety and couldn’t risk defending someone, without becoming part of the protest. Below the photographer, one of the protesters is seen with a white streak of what might be sugar, heaved over her

In comparing Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists, The Declaration of Independence, and U.S. Constitution, it is evident that the basis of all three documents is the idea that all human beings possess God-given fundamental rights and that government is created to protect those rights. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, is the first of the three documents penned. This is important because it defined the rights of liberty and equality of all American citizens as outlined in John Locke’s natural law thesis (Martin, page 113). In addition to providing an itemized account of the grievances colonist’s held against King George III of England, it served to justify the colonist’s quest for independence and separation from British rule. The Declaration of Independence conveyed to the crown that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, which among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Founders’ of the New World understood that their pursuit of liberties and autonomy specified in the Declaration of Independence could not come to fruition without instituting decrees. In 1787, the U.S. Constitution, was written to replace the Articles of Confederation with a better defined series of stringent laws that would legally uphold the freedoms and privileges established in the Declaration of Independence. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in

The Declaration of Independence states “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” to explain that a ruler, such as a tyrant, that would not bring what is morally right or fair to the people, does not grant justice to those living in that country. This helps us understand that part of the reason why The Declaration of Independence was created was to dispose of this cruel rule in America. The effort the founding fathers went through to make sure there was justice for the people represents as an example to how justice for all defines what it means to be an American. Moreover, it is stated in The Federalist Papers that “The vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty; that, in the contemplation of a sound and well-informed judgment, their interest can never be separated;” to show how a strong government is important to securing the nation's liberty. Having a certain security on the nation’s liberty shows how important it was for the federalist to make sure justice was brought to the nation. According to the Bill of Rights, “rights that are unmentioned in The Bill of Rights are retained by the people, which gives people the freedom that is necessary” to show that the government won’t take away any unnecessary freedoms, thereby giving the people justice as a country (Hilp). According to The Federalist Papers, The Bill of

In my opinion, the Preamble does a good job preparing readers for a nations set of law. As stated in the Preamble, "perfect union" was written in the articles. They wanted to make the US as perfect and United as possible. When they "establish justice" the constitution could only do it by organizing the government. One of the main purposes of the Constitution is to "establish justice." The only way to accomplish this is by securing the blessing of liberty for ourselves and prosperity.

On June of 1776, the Declaration of Independence was born. Drawn up by Thomas Jefferson and based on the works of John Locke, the general purpose of the document was to clarify that governments have conditional, not absolute authority over the people; that human beings possess natural rights that can’t be taken from them and government is created to protect those rights. The phrases “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal” were the main theme of the social contract written for the small colonies of what would be the basis of the United States of America to declare independence from Great Britain and its tyrannical king. However, “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal” did not apply to African Americans, enslaved or free for the coming years.

One of the preeminent factors provoking the former Colonists to revolt from the British was concerned with liberty for all; this concept was expanded upon in Constitution, and subverted by the white men who wrote the Constitution. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independance in 1776, one of opening paragraphs decrees the Americans right to liberty: “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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”(Thomas Jefferson). Jefferson starts the document addressing the repressed liberty of the Americans in order to demonstrate the importance of fundamental rights. However, though Jefferson says “all men are created equal,” he does not specify a distinction of men, implying all Americans are equal. In the Constitution, the Preamble expresses the need for equality by declaring: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the

When our founding fathers came together to construct a Constitution that would establish a government that could serve the people, they outlined their overall goals of this Constitution within the Preamble. The first task listed in this famous preliminary statement is to “establish Justice.” The position of this objective within the Constitution demonstrates just how significant Justice is to a government. Justice is a principle that demands equality for all in their opportunity, rights, and in a court of law. A just government would ensure minority rights and limit its power so that it cannot become too powerful. However, our Constitution does not do these things to the extent that it could be considered just. The original document denied a minority group equality by directly supporting slavery, allowed congress nearly unlimited power through the necessary and proper clause, and contains the Supreme Court, an institution that goes against the spirit of democracy. Therefore, the Constitution did not establish a just government.

The preamble to the constitution of the United States has played an important role all the way from when it was put in place in September 17, 1787, to today in our present legal, government, and economic systems. Currently we often do not realize the magnitude of importance it holds, and we neglect to see how it relates to the current issues we face. Personally I feel that a crucial part of our preamble is to insure domestic tranquility, it is of such utter importance in our country. Our nation’s people must feel they can have trust in the government, equality, security, peace at home, everything that comes with the promise of freedom the US holds, so that we can continue to flourish

On the founding of the United States Constitution, Madison, a federalist advocate, said, "Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until Liberty be lost in the pursuit" (Madison). The founding fathers constructed the constitution as a set of tools, for the government and later the people, to seek justice in the conviction of the government 's actions. In similarity to fire 's unpredictability, when someone seeks to control the power, they often get burnt. As a result, the founding fathers set restrictions on the government in order to preserve the rights of the people and guarantee liberty, which is voided only to an absolute jury 's conviction. If that is true, then the

The next section suggests the basic human rights that the founding fathers believed every government should allow their subjects. "…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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…."(Jefferson 428) Giving the citizens these basic rights would allow everyone the chance to achieve above their born status, and to strive for whatever might give them happiness.

The public was able to witness for the first time the violence and police brutality used against many civil rights activist. The majority of the civil rights demonstrators in Alabama that day were high school students. The pictures of these children being attacked by dogs and sprayed with water from high-powered fire hoses were very disturbing and shocking to most viewers. It gave a more accurate and sympathetic account; one that the public hadn’t seen before,

This photo is important especially within the context of the Black Lives Matter and Take a Knee movements that are occurring.