Although the Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal,” the wording of documents written in that time and the actions of the colonists show that not everyone was equal in 1776. Recently, the election of Donald Trump as president, has caused America to go back in time in terms of equality. Trump’s actions and reactions have angered almost every ethnic and social group possible.
In 1776, “all men” included only white men. Thomas Jefferson originally included a clause blaming and condemning the King for introducing African slavery to the colonies. However, delegates from South Carolina and Georgia refused to sign the Declaration unless Jefferson removed the clause. The delegates did not believe that slavery was morally …show more content…
The murders of unarmed black men and women, such as Michael Brown and Sandra Bland, by white police officers spurred the Black Lives Matter and #SayHerName movements. Black portrayal in the media also shows prejudice; African Americans are often underrepresented and if represented, done so negatively.
White men in 1776 were not only racist but also sexist. “I cannot but laugh” replied John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail Adams, a women’s rights advocate. In that phrase, he mocked the belief that women deserved the same rights as men. The patriarchy peaked in 1776: women had no right to vote, hold public office, or serve on juries. Married women did not even legally own their children. Women did not gain the responsibilities of American citizenship until 1920.
Decades after Congress granted women suffrage, women still struggle with blatant sexism in the forms of objectification, the wage gap, tampon tax, etc. Another issue is abortion: Trump signed an order blocking American funding from any organization that provides abortions and has taken steps to defund Planned Parenthood. Without Planned Parenthood, millions of women would lose access to affordable reproductive healthcare
In 1776, “all men” included only white men. Thomas Jefferson originally included a clause blaming and condemning the King for introducing African slavery to the colonies. However, delegates from South Carolina and Georgia refused to sign the Declaration unless Jefferson removed the clause. The delegates did not believe that slavery was morally …show more content…
The murders of unarmed black men and women, such as Michael Brown and Sandra Bland, by white police officers spurred the Black Lives Matter and #SayHerName movements. Black portrayal in the media also shows prejudice; African Americans are often underrepresented and if represented, done so negatively.
White men in 1776 were not only racist but also sexist. “I cannot but laugh” replied John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail Adams, a women’s rights advocate. In that phrase, he mocked the belief that women deserved the same rights as men. The patriarchy peaked in 1776: women had no right to vote, hold public office, or serve on juries. Married women did not even legally own their children. Women did not gain the responsibilities of American citizenship until 1920.
Decades after Congress granted women suffrage, women still struggle with blatant sexism in the forms of objectification, the wage gap, tampon tax, etc. Another issue is abortion: Trump signed an order blocking American funding from any organization that provides abortions and has taken steps to defund Planned Parenthood. Without Planned Parenthood, millions of women would lose access to affordable reproductive healthcare