Democratic Ideals Expansion Dbq Essay

Democratic Ideals Expansion DBQ

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Common Good, Justice, and Equality. Diversity, Truth, and Patriotism. These words and phrases are considered core democratic values by the United States. The question of the matter is whether these democratic ideals were supposed to be expanded by reformers during the time of 1825-1850. The reform movements in the United States can be assessed by analyzing three reformations or movements: The abolitionist movement, the women’s rights movement, and the equality of education reformation. The women’s rights movement, educational reform, and abolitionist movements played a vital role in the expansion of democratic ideals from 1825-1855 by pushing for equality and freedom

Among these great reformers was Frederick Douglass, an active African American civil rights leader, and William Lloyd Garrison, a very radical abolitionist who converted many people to abolitionism. In Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” speech in 1846, Douglass was chosen to speak at a Fourth of July celebration in Rochester, New York. Douglas, an active Abolitionist, saw it very ironic that he was selected to talk about and celebrate the great freedoms of the United States while there were four-million slaves of his own race not receiving these same freedoms. As a result, Douglass spent his whole speech attacking the hypocrisy of the people of the audience, and shaming them for their celebrations of a country that allows the mistreatment and inequality of slaves and African Americans. Also during this time, the U.S was flooded with slavery propaganda. In Frances Gage’ Truth speech of 1851, Frances expressed her frustration with the treatment of her fellow African Americans. She made it clear that the segregation between whites and blacks should not be tolerated anymore. She made the point that while white women are

Stanton is famous for writing about women’s rights in the Declaration of Right and Sentiments in 1848 (Document 6). Stanton’s argued that if it is in the constitution that equality be a democratic ideal, the nation should abide by. She specifically pointed out certain rights men had but women did not have, even though the constitution preaches equality and freedom. “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal...” (Document 6). The purpose of Elizabeth Stanton’s Declaration was to help achieve change is the treatment of women during this era. This is relevant because her goal was to create change during this reformation, and the expansion of women’s rights falls right in line with the expansion of democratic ideals. During this time, men had the right to submit to laws in the formation of government, but women were not allowed in the voting booths on Election Day. The women’s rights movement, or reformation, adds credibility to the statement that reformations from 1825-1850 sought to expand democratic ideals. Stanton was seeking to expand the core democratic value of equality of the two genders. Although women did not receive the right to vote immediately after Stanton attempts, female suffrage in the United States was eventually introduced. Like Stanton, a man named Horace Mann was also advocating