The Declaration Of Independence: 'All Men Are Created Equal'

Many would say that America was built on the principle that “all men are created equal” and that U.S. citizens are all given equal treatment, opportunities, and so on. But, is that really the case? Was Thomas Jefferson’s famous words, forever inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, meant for everyone? Taking a look back into America’s short (at least when compared to other countries) history, the phrase “all men are created equal” doesn’t really seem to correlate with the circumstances of that century. Africans were enslaved and forced to do hard, strenuous labor or else be forced to endure a beating by the slave master. But don’t forget, all men are created equal. It says so in the constitution. Fast forward a couple of hundred years where all men still aren’t equal, but are close to it.

“The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.” US Representative, John Lewis said this in his return to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial he spoke on 54 years ago, during the March on Washington. Racism has been around since the beginning of time, but it is not human nature. Racism is something that is taught, and given the amount of time that has passed since To Kill A Mockingbird and the March on Washington, one would think that racism wouldn’t be a serious issue any more. Although race relations have improved along with other social issues from the time of To Kill Mockingbird, racism and discrimination are major problems in today’s society.

We have all sat through multiple history classes and learned about slavery, segregation, and the Civil War. We have all seen brutal movies and presentations based on racial injustices and the lack of equality. So often, we forget that these issues are still so present in our community. Slavery is illegal in the United States but other forms of racial profiling, insensitivity, and racism continue to be a recurring social barrier. Racism is still very much alive. The United States is “equal” yet somehow segregated. There isn’t quite a quick fix to this problem. Clearly, this has been an ongoing issue and requires major progression in our personal global

Equality between men and women has grown stronger, but in many ways, it is the same. We still live in a society where women are paid significantly less than men, women have less job opportunities,

Throughout the nation’s history, American’s have sought to put an end to discriminatory practices and bring equality toward minority groups. For example, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech were directed at putting an end to mistreatment of African Americans. Likewise, Jane Adams and Susan B. Anthony used their authority as women’s rights activists to push for greater equality amongst the genders. While some may argue that women are lagging behind in the race to equal rights, others claim the opposing approach. In today’s society, women are achieving true equality due to a shift in the old stereotypes toward women, increasing opportunities for women to become educated, higher expectations for women in the workplace, and a stronger influence of women in government positions.

In the new proactive book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander dives into the not so complicated racial issues that plague this country that we tend to ignore. In all of history, African Americans have had to constantly fight for their freedoms and the right to be considered a human being in this society. It’s very troubling looking back and seeing where we have failed people in this country. At the turn of the century, when people began to think that we had left our old ways behind, this book reminds us that we are wrong. Racism is still alive today in every way, just in different forms.

Douglas tries to change his readers’ beliefs about what it means to be dedicated to the idea that “All men are created equal’’ by explaining the injustices of slavery. One example Douglass writes about is when Colonel Lloyd would whip the slaves that took care of the horses because they either fed them too much or too little or they were too early or too late. According to the narrative, “ If a horse did not move fast enough, or hold his head high enough, it was owing to some fault of its owner.’’ ( Douglass, Chpt.3, Para.3) Colonel Lloyd whips the slaves for things that are out of their control. They can’t control the horse and tell it what to do and it’ll just listen. If it’s one little mistake and the horses aren’t intact, then it's on

African Americans have been facing racism and prejudice for a long time. Even to this day racism towards African American still happens. It is something that can’t be changed. It can only be

“Racism still occupies the throne of our nation,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pronounced just before his assassination. Almost fifty years later, we are still faced with the same unchanged threat that makes the words of Dr. King true. As individuals, communities, and a proud nation we have made an everlasting fingerprint for the children of our future, yet we lack the strength of acknowledgment to alter the course of racial discrimination and conquer prejudice. Has the formation of structural discrimination rooted itself too deeply into our subconscious that hope for rehabilitation seems unattainable? As a nation, we voted a man with a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya as the first multiracial President of the United States. Racism has not been eradicated because of the racial background of President Barrack Obama and we have not accomplished victory because of his African decent because prejudice has been too deeply fixed within our society. Social circumstance and the insinuation of race continue to change over time, precisely because race has become a social construct that serves political ends. The prior and present leaders of our nation organize, generate, and endorse the laws and public policy that ensure racism continues to maintain itself against people of color. Our historically racist foundation, the rising effects of structural discrimination, and the view of modernized racism all actively participate in shaping our structural

"All men are created equal..." is what the original Declaration of Independence expresses. Is that an ideal that this outstanding nation has followed through the years or, perhaps, it is just a measly sentence on a piece of old paper? The United States of America has always considered itself greater than other nations, especially at giving people their deserved freedom. The American people have gone a long way to acquire their freedom, however. There are even people, here, who still struggle for it. To regain their freedom, the African American people went through desolate lives of slavery and then endured the brutal American Civil War, which may be one of the bloodiest wars in US history. After that, all slaves in America were considered free. Black men in America still couldn't vote, however, until Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment in 1869. Even so, the amendment only gave white and black men the ability to vote. Women were still considered property of men, which eventually led to the Woman's Suffrage Act. The US has struggled long and hard to realize one of the key principles in the founding of this extraordinary nation; the

All of you here have heard and read the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. The line that resonates with most people is “that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. America was founded on this principle, and many argue that this idea still stands today. However, if one were to look at the treatment of women in the United States over the course of time, one could conclude that not everyone residing in America is fortunate enough to have the same opportunities economically, at home, and even in regards to their own body.

As the British government of the 18th century began to impose discriminatory policies on the colonists, the American rebels grew angry. They became motivated to break away from England in hopes of creating a country that was unique and superior to their mother country. After their victory in the American Revolutionary War, the colonists united to establish a constitution. While America's founding fathers changed many British policies and ideas, slavery was not. Jefferson, one of the most influential founding father’s, famous for writing the words, “all men were created equal” was a privileged plantation owner, putting into question the meaning behind this well-known phrase. Jefferson, unlike his fellow landowning class, was among the first to speak up against slavery regarding it as “moral depravity.” However, he contradicted his own beliefs in his personal life as a slave owner. It is essential to analyze economic, political and social factors when understanding the differences between his professional and personal life.

The phrase all “men are created equal” is often referred to as an immortal declaration and a fundamental expression during the American revolutionary struggles. Thomas Jefferson first used the phrase in the US document for the declaration of independence during 1776, but due to its importance, it was often quoted by several other speakers including Benjamin Franklin who stylized the phrase.

Thomas Jefferson support the equal right for all families. He stated, “All men are created equal”. He

The Declaration of Independence states “all men are created equal.” However, that concept does not contribute to Fredrick Douglass and Red Jacket, who represent two different cultures with a similar dilemma. Both argue the hypocrisy of the document, that only applies to a certain population of the United States of America. In addition, Douglass and Red Jacket are defending their beliefs among the injustices that they have came across with the “whites”. Even though Red Jacket is speaking up among the betrayal of the Europeans, referring to the day of the Europeans arrival to their land as a day of disgrace, “…We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return.” Douglass, in comparison advocates for black civil rights, and the inequalities for the ever existence of slavery. However, both come together at the end of the day to describe the irony of the same government. With a well develop argument, the prove their point across showing ethos, both emotion and values among their distinct cultures.