The word “freedom” is relative to the perspective of the individual who endures it. As opposition to the British crown grew amongst the American colonists, the need for a formal decree asserting their separation was imperative. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and after revisions from his fellow peers, Congress adopted the document in the same year on July 4th in Philadelphia. While much of the document elaborates on concepts such as indpendence and civil liberties, it did not extend its ideas to all living in the United States. Years later in 1848, abolitionist and prominent figure in the women’s rights movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, created the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments with the help of Lucretia
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In the Declaration of Independence, the writing of the preamble is meant to sophisticatedly state the colonists’ intent to part ways with their former British government, but ultimately declare to the world of their intentions of doing so in hopes of achieving military or financial support. In this section it states, “it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them” (“The Declaration”). This extensive sentence outlines the necessity of terminating the political relationship between Great Britain during the time and the need for colonies to attain their natural rights. By including the words “one people,” it leaves the interpretation open for other colonized countries to consider their oppressor and autonomy. This statement also leaves room for interpretation within the colonies to establish a hierarchal system of individuals who are considered “people” or citizens by defining certain qualifications, such as being a property owner. In the preamble of the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, it states, “it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied” (“The Declaration”). In this statement, the writing evokes almost a mocking tone in the words “the family of man,” implying that American familial standards are male-dominated and that the concept is widely known and accepted. Allan Johnson, in his article “Patriarchy,” states that “those identified as ‘head of household’ all tend to be male under patriarchy” when discussing
In the Declaration of Independence, the writing of the preamble is meant to sophisticatedly state the colonists’ intent to part ways with their former British government, but ultimately declare to the world of their intentions of doing so in hopes of achieving military or financial support. In this section it states, “it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them” (“The Declaration”). This extensive sentence outlines the necessity of terminating the political relationship between Great Britain during the time and the need for colonies to attain their natural rights. By including the words “one people,” it leaves the interpretation open for other colonized countries to consider their oppressor and autonomy. This statement also leaves room for interpretation within the colonies to establish a hierarchal system of individuals who are considered “people” or citizens by defining certain qualifications, such as being a property owner. In the preamble of the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, it states, “it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied” (“The Declaration”). In this statement, the writing evokes almost a mocking tone in the words “the family of man,” implying that American familial standards are male-dominated and that the concept is widely known and accepted. Allan Johnson, in his article “Patriarchy,” states that “those identified as ‘head of household’ all tend to be male under patriarchy” when discussing