The meaning of equality can be completely different to certain people. A particular environment and perspective can impel someone to have a definition of equality that can differ greatly from the standard dictionary definition. In the case of Jefferson and the men who revised the Declaration of Independence, when they said, ¨All men are created equal¨ their views on equality of all men excluded: slaves, women, and Native Americans. When Jefferson wrote that infamous quote, it is safe to assume that by all men, he meant all white men. Freedom and equality is relative to the specific individual in question; our country has made great strides for complete freedom and equality, but here still is room for improvement. The Iroquois constitution …show more content…
When talking about the Christian king of Great Britain, Jefferson says, “He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only” (Jefferson 101). Fed up with the Kings lackluster help in America, Jefferson states how large districts of people aren’t being given the correct rights to help themselves. Without the king giving them freedom, the people of America are stuck in their ways and aren't able to improve their way of life. Similarly, the king is controlling the Americans without their consent, stating, “He has kept among us in times of peace standing armies and ships of war without the consent of our legislatures” (102). The American freedom is being taken advantage of with the king keeping a dominant position over them. During peaceful times, the Americans still have to deal with ships of war, which diminishes their freedom to live in peace. In essence, with Great Britain putting overbearing constraints on the Americans, they couldn't deal with it any more, hence the Declaration of …show more content…
Women have had to go through many hardships and for most of time they have been treated without respect and as an inferior to man. In March of 1776, wife of John adams, Abigail Adams, wrote a letter to John urging him to contemplate the role of women in their society, saying,“If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation” (Adams 111). In the quote she is trying to make sure that John doesn’t forget the importance of paying attention to women. She proceeds to warn him that if women are not given a voice they could be upset and form a rebellion. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a pioneer in women’s rights, wrote in her constitution about the inequalities women have, stating, “He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns” (Stanton 113). In the format of the declaration, she talks about how women aren’t free due to the fact that she cannot have property or wages. By stating “he has” over and over again it emphasises how much men have controlled women throughout their life. Although we have mostly overcome the inequality issues between men and women(in the U.S.) it is important to remember the past and how hard women had to fight to get the rights they now
In the “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” (1848) a speech given by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leader in the “American women’s rights movement”, she states that “All men and women are created equal ” (98). She conveys this message by alluding to the Declaration of Independence, she says the rights of men, but yet again makes it so it’s men and women for the same rights, she also uses repetition of saying “he” just like Jefferson used “he”, but Stanton is referring to the American men’s abuses towards women, for example, “he has taken from her all right in property, … He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being” (99). She tells us this speech in order to open our eyes and see how the way they were living wasn’t
4. Both Abigail Adams and Stanton are making it understood that change for women is long overdue. Both selections have a specific highlight on the “tyrannical” way men have ran their society and with no “impunity”. Stanton goes into great length with this among with many of instances marking the patriarchy, with Abigail Adams sticking mainly to addressing the men who have already recognized this discrimination and making an importune call for the change in women’s rights.
On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to voice the need for liberation and rebellion against the English monarchy. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., a civil right activist, wrote a Letter From Birmingham Jail as he sat in a jail cell after being arrested for protesting the segregation and injustices in not just Alabama, but the entire country The Declaration of Independence and A Letter from Birmingham Jail, although written nearly 200 years apart, share many similarities not only in style, but also in message. Both Jefferson and King had a common message. They were arguing the need for a certain freedom from their oppressors.
The idea of all men are created equal is specious because there were Slavery, and women did not have equal rights as men. Sources A, B, C, D, show how the statement “all men are created equal” is hypocritical. The Declaration of Independence, from Source A, provides the reader that the Declaration of Natural Rights is false. In Source B, the letter from Abigail Adams shows how men had “unlimited power,” and women did not have the ability to vote, own property, or speak out in Congress. In Source C, it conveys how Slavery provoked unfair rights, embittered lives, and the loss of natural rights.
Throughout her time in Boston and as the First Lady, Abigail Adams was a persistent advocate of women’s rights. In her letters to John, Thomas, and other family members, she often displayed the issues she had as a married woman at the time. Abigail particularly was a proponent of the rights of married women having to do with property ownership and other disallowed opportunities for women, including the lack of available education. Drawing from a central theme of the Revolution, Abigail often argued to John that women should not and will not follow laws that do not take into consideration the lives of women, nor women continue to be satisfied dedicating their lives entirely to being a domestic partner for their husbands. Knowing that
He replied to her plea in a letter of his own claiming “…, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems” (Adams 57). Despite the support John Adams had of women gaining independence, he knew that other men were not. Over seventy years later, while petitioning for the rights of women, Susan B. Anthony frequently addressed the opposing side of the debate against the women’s suffrage movement. In her noteworthy speech given in New York about the bias of rejecting women’s suffrage, she identified the notable argument which was the cornerstone of the anti-women side of the debate. Anthony counseled, “It is urged that the use of the masculine pronouns he, his and him in all the constitutions and laws, is proof that only men we meant to be included in their provisions” (Anthony 281).
The Declaration of Independence, which announced the independence of thirteen american colonies from United Kingdom and the Declaration of Sentiments, which is demanding for freedom and equality between men and women, are both proof of human beings improvements. They changed the history of United
Susan B. Anthony was a strong feminist who gave her Women’s Right To Suffrage speech in 1873. Although she was white and was privileged in many ways more than minorities, she didn’t have as much rights as men at the time, for it was the sexist men who were considered the leaders of the country. They believed that women didn’t deserve rights, that they were only allowed to aide their husbands and their children. They couldn’t take on a responsibility a man could, and in her eyes, that was despicable.
The American Dream is something that everybody strives to accomplish throughout their life no matter where they come from. Three people have strived to create the American Dream for other people and not just themselves. These people are Martin Luther King Jr, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted African Americans to achieve their american dream of being considered equal to whites in every aspect. Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott strived and rallied for women’s right in society.
Without the Iroquois Constitution, the United States Constitution may have not been written the same, if at all. These comparisons and contrasts with the Iroquois constitution are what helped mold our country
Jefferson’s philosophy on government is that it should benefit the majority of people and be fair, therefore it should be altered when different needs arise. “He has refused his assent to laws, the wholesome and necessary for the public good.” (Jefferson) The Quartering Act of 1765 put strain on many of the colonies. Some colonies were forced to provide good and shelter British troops, which the colonists didn’t want to be forced to do or have the financial responsibility. “He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
Friedman explains that equality before God is not something the founders take literally. He mentions in his article, “They did not regard ‘men’—or as we would say today, ‘persons’—as equal in physical characteristics, emotional reactions, mechanical and intellectual abilities” (265). Instead, the equality here is really about equality throughout religion, specifically Christianity. In order to show his point, Friedman states the example of President Jefferson who wrote “all men are created equal” and talks about Jefferson’s experience. So, what did Jefferson mean when he wrote that, “all men are created equal?”
She begins her letter by stating that John is working too frequently and not spending enough time with her and her family. She proceeds to denounce his work in office by stating that despite their government’s progress towards equality of all men, the women still deserve to have equal opportunities. Moreover, she also infers that a government is only as powerful as it’s people, thus, if not provided wit equal opportunities, the women will revolt against the government. Before reading this, I was unaware that women, especially women of higher class/power, were discussing equal rights and opportunities of women. I assumed that they would have primarily discussed this with the other women in their society rather than the men.
Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments” was the first convention for women rights. Its purpose was to address the status of American women. Stanton felt that women were feeling they were getting shorted and disrespected of their rights. It was a list of resolutions to the problems dealing with their rights. She also included needs for women’s right to education, property, and vote.
Milton Friedman once said, “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree in both.” From my perspective American equality is someone’s idea about who deserves something greater than the struggles they have been through to get something great. Everybody has their own ideas about everything. I have come to realize when one person is pleased, a crowd gets upset; when a crowd is pleased there is always that one person who is not pleased.