voices of freedom paper

In this passage, Paine emphasizes how the unique individualism of the American colonies cannot exist under Great Britain. While it may be a rational and more peaceful decision to remain under Great Britain’s control, the oppression of the American colonies’ individualism is one that goes against common sense and is a situation that calls for a passionate revolution.

The years of 1763-1765 were truly defining moments for colonist of the colonies, soon to become the United States of America. ‘’War! War! This is the only way!” American Colonist shouted,as they took to the streets proclaiming defiance of British rule. “We as a people shall fight for our freedom and have victory.No more shall we continue to let others control our countries and give our money to a monarch who has no concern for our right’s, dedication that was put forth to help fight and respect us as loyal subjects.We must fight for our freedom!” When American colonist waged war it proved to be the only way for the colonies to become free from Britian. In turn, the colonist were justified in breaking away from England because of: The

Eric Foner, Olaudah Equiano on Slavery (1789), In Voices of Freedom, Vol 1, Page 65.

In the chapter Kings, Parliament, and Inherited Rights, starts off with the quote about the revolution. The revolution was in the mind and the hearts of people, a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. The evolution of the revolution began was an argument over rights that changed into struggle for power of each party to assert their rights as it understood them, then afterward struggle for empire as Americans began to conceive a more ambitious and independent course for themselves. Americans believe that legally of all parliamentary statutes was measured against the constitution; on that basis, being unrepresented in Parliament, they denied the rights of the body to tax them directly according to the principles of constitutional law. A particular act focused on in the chapter is the Stamp Act, which imposed a stamp tax ranging from one shilling to six on various commercial and legal documents such as wills, mortgages, and college degrees, as well as on newspapers, almanacs, calendars, pamphlets, playing cards and dice. Also the Trade and Navigation Acts was a parliamentary revenue raised in America would make England governors and their appointees independent of local pressure and more faithful enforcing British statutes. These made the colonies more united. Colonies wanted to distance

Freedom is being breached all over the U.S and most of it is being taken away from the press. Sure the Patriot Act is killing everyone's privacy in secrecy all over the US, but journalists and reporters are being put in jail right and left. The government has infringed on their rights in a way that should not be with the first amendment. It seems like the more people let the government do, the more steps the government takes to take first amendment rights from people. For instance the secret spying on people from government organizations, the quiet protest of a man who was brutally beat and sent to jail, the beginning of punishment comparison to a communist country, and the severe punishment of a man who would did

They established a list of declarations and resolves which outlined the independence and rights that us colonists felt we were entitled to. The first thing they argued was “that they are entitled to life, liberty, and property, & they have never ceded to any sovereign power whatever, a right to dispose either without their consent.” Next that “our ancestors, who first settled these colonies, were at the time of their emigration from the mother country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural born subjects within the realm of England.” Also, “that by such emigration they by no means forfeited, surrendered, or lost any of those rights, but that they were, and their descendants now are entitle to the exercise and enjoyment of all such of them, as their local and other circumstances enable them to exercise and enjoy.” Lastly, “that the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council: and as the English colonists are not represented, and from their local and other circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of representation can alone be preserved, in all cases of taxation and internal polity, subject only to the negative of their sovereign,

The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was a document written by the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765, in response to the oppressive Stamp Act passed by Parliament requiring a special tax on all official documents/ paper goods. The Stamp Act Congress was assembled in New York with representatives from 9 of the 13 colonies in America, and at the end of proceedings, they assembled a list of “14 points of colonial protest” including: only colonial assemblies should have the right to tax colonists, trial by jury should be guaranteed, and that colonists should possess every right that an Englishman had. The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was a big step in the independence movement because it declared that taxes on colonial goods without

In David Friedman’s book, “The Machinery of Freedom”, he argues for anarcho-capitalism, the theory that believes the state should be abolished because it is unnecessary and a free-market should be put into place. Usually, anarcho-capitalism is defended from one of two views, consequentialist or deontologist. Friedman takes the consequentialist side believing that it is actually more desirable for the market to provide law and protection than the state because it gives the people choice to choose what they believe and competition will promote improvement. Deontologists, however, believe that any initiation of force is immoral, so they would prefer a law banning the initiation of force rather than private protection agencies. Despite

I feel that the author, on his argument was a true supporter for the independence. He questioned the reason why the colonialists could not break ties with Britain. He highlighted all the hardships and believe by many that England and its monarch be believed and revered. Thomas Paine also incorporates religion into his style to all people to his viewpoint the king’s rule is unrighteous “ given us up to the devils” (Digital History). He also mentioned fear as a factor that Britain had employed in other parts, but he thanks God he knew the situation well (Digital History). A Thomas Paine argument was that colonialists should continue fighting even in the face of defeat because giving up would be a greater price pay. According to Thomas Paine,

As Paine says in Common Sense, the British government only protects us because we are valuable to them. They only want to make money off of what we have. Paine also says that America wouldn’t even need protection because we have no enemies. The British have enemies, not us. We, the colonies, would be better if we governed ourselves and we are also capable of protecting ourselves. It doesn’t make any sense to stay under unfair rule.

After reading “Morgan’s Article” and my readings from “Voices of Freedom” I think that people in the United States greatly depended on slave labor. Not that I condone slavery or the hardships that slaves encountered, but the work that they actually performed. In 1785 freedom for American leaders was based more on the economic health (Voices of Freedom pg 120). In the Article “Founding a Nation” (Voices of Freedom), American leaders believed that the republic economic health required that farmers to have access to land in the West. And this was all just have the independence. During this time Thomas Jefferson would sign the Declaration of Independence and slaves were no able to be emancipated. Even though some people thought his words were contradictory in his views of slavery, he sought to make it a point that

Thomas Paine reaches a point in The American Crisis where he begins to describe the wrath and cruelty of British rule. During this description, he describes, “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny… (Paine.)” Paine is showing just how Americans should not be held under these unwanted circumstance and should be free from Britain’s power. They are not treated the colonies with much respect at all. Thomas Paine stays on the topic of Britain for a while, and continues to make analogies. In one of the analogies of The American Crisis he states, “if being bound in that manner is not slavery, there is not such a thing as slavery on Earth (Paine.)” Just the fact alone that he is comparing Britain’s rule with slavery is enough to make you think that they don’t treat us Americans well. It makes the will to break the connection with Great Britain even longer. This needs to be fought for. Our own independance is worth the risk of staying to

The Freedom Riders were a racially mixed group, organized by the Congress of Racial Equality, who challenged the south’s segregation laws in 1961. Thirteen riders left Washington DC, hoping to bring attention to the segregation laws in the south, and force federal action. The plan was to spend two weeks riding the public bus system from Washington, DC to New Orleans, Louisiana. At each stop, the riders would purposefully violate the segregation laws of the deep south by entering the “all white” facilities, to see if the African-American riders would be served. The group was committed to a completely non-violent stand, being trained in various responses, such as not making eye-contact with antagonizers.

The state of New York’s last slaves were freed in 1827. Soon after, African Americans all over starting to come together to tell a story that will be remembered for generations to come. Freedom’s Journal was the first African American owned newspaper in the United States. The newspaper was founded by many free African American men in New York City. One of which was Rev. Peter Williams Jr.. The first copy of Freedom’s Journal was published on March 16th, 1827 and was put out of business in 1829 by a new newspaper called “The Rights of All”. The Rights of All was published by Samuel Cornish, also the former senior editor for Freedom’s Journal.

In the Declaration of Independence (US 1776), Thomas Jefferson introduces a statement accepted by the Second Continental Congress to declare the causes that compel the thirteen colonies to separate themselves from the British Crown and form their own individual states. This revolutionary document is organized into six sections. The Declaration of Independence (US 1776) opens with an introduction, declaring the reasons the American colonies want to leave the British Crown. They also state that their independence is absolutely necessary and unavoidable. The second section includes the preamble which provides the reasons for writing the Declaration of Independence (US 1776). Also included in this section is the colonist’s beliefs about government and John Locke’s theory on natural rights and social contract. In the third section, 29 grievances are listed against England and King George III. These complaints include taxation without representation, forcing the colonists to keep British soldiers in their homes, restricting the colonist’s trade, shutting down colonial legislatures and their attempts to seek redress from the king for their problems. The fourth section is stating the colonist’s efforts to appeal various decisions made by King George III and how their requests were met in vain. The fifth section is a formal declaration stating that the colonies are now “Free and Independent States” (¶ 6). The colonies state they will rule themselves and discontinue their loyalty to