The United States’ success stems from its value to protect citizens’ liberties. Founded to protect man’s natural rights--life, liberty and property, Constitutional modifications ensure the pursuance of these rights. The First Amendment grants citizens authority to speak, assemble, and publish their opinions of government and society; the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause secures equal protection under federal and state laws for all citizens. These Constitutional modifications supply methods for citizens to hold the government accountable: to ensure the expression of their rights: to further equality: to foster opportunity. “At the core of the Declaration of Independence is the principle that government exists to protect individual
…show more content…
The Declaration of Independence exemplifies peaceful assertion of the colonists’ rights. Prior to its signing, American colonists reacted to their lack of representation in British Parliament (which was filled by English elected governors unaware of the conditions in America) by refusing to pay unjust duties: the Stamp, Tea, and Townshend Acts. The violence of Boston Tea Party and Boston Massacre, products of colonial contempt for Great Britain, resulted in increased Parliamentary control. Non-peaceful resistance, such as this, fails because it threatens established systems. Peaceful resistance yields vast results because it challenges these …show more content…
The United States’ founding stresses the importance of civil discourse which peaceful resistance respects. Violent resistance negates discourse, constructing a fearful society and unresponsive government. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859 and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s sought similar justification for African American; however, John Brown’s use of violence further polarized debates of emancipation. Stability--a promise of the social contract--was threatened with violence. The government would not concede and citizens were fearful. The Texas Politics Project explains that nonviolent action can convert the opposing side to adopt another’s views, lead the opposing side to concede to another’s demands, or diminish the opposing side’s
The Declaration of Independence exemplifies peaceful assertion of the colonists’ rights. Prior to its signing, American colonists reacted to their lack of representation in British Parliament (which was filled by English elected governors unaware of the conditions in America) by refusing to pay unjust duties: the Stamp, Tea, and Townshend Acts. The violence of Boston Tea Party and Boston Massacre, products of colonial contempt for Great Britain, resulted in increased Parliamentary control. Non-peaceful resistance, such as this, fails because it threatens established systems. Peaceful resistance yields vast results because it challenges these …show more content…
The United States’ founding stresses the importance of civil discourse which peaceful resistance respects. Violent resistance negates discourse, constructing a fearful society and unresponsive government. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859 and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s sought similar justification for African American; however, John Brown’s use of violence further polarized debates of emancipation. Stability--a promise of the social contract--was threatened with violence. The government would not concede and citizens were fearful. The Texas Politics Project explains that nonviolent action can convert the opposing side to adopt another’s views, lead the opposing side to concede to another’s demands, or diminish the opposing side’s