Inarguably the most important text written for the United States of the America is the Declaration of Independence. Signed in 1776, the Declarations boasts “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.” While on paper it looks like everyone will be treated equal in the land of the free, it was not the case. The history of the United States of America teems with bravery and sacrifice, as well as, discrimination, wrong doings, and cruelty. Slavery is the most well known example. Beginning in the 1600s, Africans were brought to the Americas to work. Through centuries of maltreatment
…show more content…
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, a Native American is “a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of the western hemisphere.” There has always been a thriving debate on who the first people to settle the Americas were. It is nearly impossible to know for sure, but the most commonly accepted theory is that these people migrated over a land bridge from Siberia to modern day Alaska some 12,000 years ago. However, recent findings have caused some scientists to change their minds. Known as the Baja California study, fossils were found dating back almost 13,500 years with narrow faces usually not found related to the Amerindians. Some of these recent findings lead scientists believe that the first settlers of the Americas originated in Southeast Asia. These people previously occupied modern-day Australia. No matter where these aboriginal people came from, they called the Americas their home thousands of years before the New World was “discovered.” Of course the natives had problems of their own. They had age old feuds and wars. In fact, the first war in the world began in 2700 BC. “There were most likely earlier wars, but writing was not invented, for war is the one thing human beings have been consistently good at (Unknown).” Their issues, however, were nothing compared to what the Europeans would bring them. It was in 1492 when “Columbus sailed the ocean blue” that the oppression …show more content…
Up until 1924, Native Americans were not granted citizenship in the US. Prior to the Civil War, citizenship was only given to those people with half or less Native American blood. After this in the period known as Reconstruction, “friendly” tribes were given citizenship. Also, the Native Americans who married US citizens were granted citizenship, as well as Native verterns of World War I. The group had been fighting for so long and was finally granted it through Indian Citizenship Act. It was meant to be an all-inclusive act, which it was, but only for citizenship. The rights that follow were often twisted so that the Native Americans could not be full voting peoples. The Act was mandated on the state level and many states barred their Native Americans from voting until 1957. Closer to today in 2014, the Native Voting Rights Act was passed. It amended the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make an “individual 's unexpired tribal identification document issued by an Indian tribe or Native Corporation a valid form of identification in states and political subdivisions ... to vote or register to vote (S.2399 — 113th Congress).”
In summation, the Native Americans have traveled down a long road filled with trials. Many were lost along the way, but the ones who remain are ever stronger. Finally, the majority of these native peoples of the Americas can say they are not being persecuted anymore,
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, a Native American is “a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of the western hemisphere.” There has always been a thriving debate on who the first people to settle the Americas were. It is nearly impossible to know for sure, but the most commonly accepted theory is that these people migrated over a land bridge from Siberia to modern day Alaska some 12,000 years ago. However, recent findings have caused some scientists to change their minds. Known as the Baja California study, fossils were found dating back almost 13,500 years with narrow faces usually not found related to the Amerindians. Some of these recent findings lead scientists believe that the first settlers of the Americas originated in Southeast Asia. These people previously occupied modern-day Australia. No matter where these aboriginal people came from, they called the Americas their home thousands of years before the New World was “discovered.” Of course the natives had problems of their own. They had age old feuds and wars. In fact, the first war in the world began in 2700 BC. “There were most likely earlier wars, but writing was not invented, for war is the one thing human beings have been consistently good at (Unknown).” Their issues, however, were nothing compared to what the Europeans would bring them. It was in 1492 when “Columbus sailed the ocean blue” that the oppression …show more content…
Up until 1924, Native Americans were not granted citizenship in the US. Prior to the Civil War, citizenship was only given to those people with half or less Native American blood. After this in the period known as Reconstruction, “friendly” tribes were given citizenship. Also, the Native Americans who married US citizens were granted citizenship, as well as Native verterns of World War I. The group had been fighting for so long and was finally granted it through Indian Citizenship Act. It was meant to be an all-inclusive act, which it was, but only for citizenship. The rights that follow were often twisted so that the Native Americans could not be full voting peoples. The Act was mandated on the state level and many states barred their Native Americans from voting until 1957. Closer to today in 2014, the Native Voting Rights Act was passed. It amended the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make an “individual 's unexpired tribal identification document issued by an Indian tribe or Native Corporation a valid form of identification in states and political subdivisions ... to vote or register to vote (S.2399 — 113th Congress).”
In summation, the Native Americans have traveled down a long road filled with trials. Many were lost along the way, but the ones who remain are ever stronger. Finally, the majority of these native peoples of the Americas can say they are not being persecuted anymore,