“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words were the start of the Declaration of Independence written in 1776. The document was created as a final attempt to get freedom from England. Colonists had left England in search of freedom in America but instead found they were still controlled by the King. In hope of gaining support, the colonies joined together to draft the Declaration of Independence to stand up against the monarchy. Physically the document was an outline of their complaints but it also came to be not only the beginning of American independence
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This opened the door for all men, and women, regardless of race to feel that they were equal. “All men are created equal” was not a phrase that supported the idea of slavery. The new country needed to acknowledge that equal rights included people who were not white and not male (Countryman 218). African Americans had been treated poorly by the British (Douglas 11-12). There were about 600,000 African Americans living in the colonies and they believed there would be a new society for them (Egerton 42-43). It would be many years still before African Americans would be free of slavery but when titions were issued for emancipation they quoted the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” (Egerton 125). In fact, when Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, he drawed upon the Declaration of Independence to support an end slavery. Women in America also attempted to use the Declaration to open up more opportunities. During the Revolution women in America had helped to play a role in securing independence. Women’s roles changed as they were forced to become self reliant and to help make a difference while men were at battle (Countryman 235). While women’s opportunities were still mainly domestic the Declaration has opened the door for them to pursue increased freedom and equality in years to
This opened the door for all men, and women, regardless of race to feel that they were equal. “All men are created equal” was not a phrase that supported the idea of slavery. The new country needed to acknowledge that equal rights included people who were not white and not male (Countryman 218). African Americans had been treated poorly by the British (Douglas 11-12). There were about 600,000 African Americans living in the colonies and they believed there would be a new society for them (Egerton 42-43). It would be many years still before African Americans would be free of slavery but when titions were issued for emancipation they quoted the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” (Egerton 125). In fact, when Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, he drawed upon the Declaration of Independence to support an end slavery. Women in America also attempted to use the Declaration to open up more opportunities. During the Revolution women in America had helped to play a role in securing independence. Women’s roles changed as they were forced to become self reliant and to help make a difference while men were at battle (Countryman 235). While women’s opportunities were still mainly domestic the Declaration has opened the door for them to pursue increased freedom and equality in years to