Today, America is a place where freedom of speech, liberty and rights are all granted by laws; however, this was not always the case. Back in 1776, when the American revolution was beginning, independence and a democratic society were non existent. In the passage, “ Thinking Through the Past”, by John Hollitz, the main idea is focused on different events and laws that caused the American revolution. Several primary sources are displayed throughout the passage that help with the upbringing of the revolution. Britain was taking away many of the citizen’s rights and they finally wanted to be free. Throughout the primary sources displayed, women 's rights, race relations, and social economic status all play a part in america gaining democracy
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They were not able to vote, hold jobs outside of the household, fight in wars and much much more. It was even harder for women who had husbands that were founding fathers because they wanted equal rights for men in their country, but no their wives. In primary source #11, Abigail Adams, a wife of one of the leading founding fathers, John Adams, writes a letter to her husband stating that since independence from Britain was near, it was time women got equal treatment. If more women aren’t being represented, they’ll rebel (80). In a letter back to Abigail, John responded saying, If we give women more freedom, then soon slaves will become disobedient and the government as a whole will be loosened (80). This represents the unjust treatment women endured and makes it …show more content…
In primary source #7, the discussion of voting rights is displayed through two fictional characters in a newspaper in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania opened up a voting law that allowed any male taxpayer of 21 years and up to vote. Before this law was passed, the qualifications to vote were severe and intense. You had to be white, wealthy, and smart and at the time, to be all three was rare. “Should Pennsylvania trust men who are worth 50 pounds each and ruin those who are not worth as much?” (75). The statement represents how men who had more money deemed to be more valuable and important than those who did not have as much. Though at this time, the rich and wealthy only made up a small percentage of than those of poorer societies. In primary sources 2,3,4 and 6, the documents focus on the american riots on the British laws and merchants who were against them. The riots in these documents discuss the protest on the stamp act. As many history books emphasize, the stamp act was something that affected people of all social classes because it made the cost to ships goods and mail more expensive and less people could profit. The sons of liberty were responsible for holding many of these riots against the British and merchants. The organization was filled with white men of a middle and upper class society who greatly influenced many americans because of their beliefs and demand for independence. Merchants, on
They were not able to vote, hold jobs outside of the household, fight in wars and much much more. It was even harder for women who had husbands that were founding fathers because they wanted equal rights for men in their country, but no their wives. In primary source #11, Abigail Adams, a wife of one of the leading founding fathers, John Adams, writes a letter to her husband stating that since independence from Britain was near, it was time women got equal treatment. If more women aren’t being represented, they’ll rebel (80). In a letter back to Abigail, John responded saying, If we give women more freedom, then soon slaves will become disobedient and the government as a whole will be loosened (80). This represents the unjust treatment women endured and makes it …show more content…
In primary source #7, the discussion of voting rights is displayed through two fictional characters in a newspaper in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania opened up a voting law that allowed any male taxpayer of 21 years and up to vote. Before this law was passed, the qualifications to vote were severe and intense. You had to be white, wealthy, and smart and at the time, to be all three was rare. “Should Pennsylvania trust men who are worth 50 pounds each and ruin those who are not worth as much?” (75). The statement represents how men who had more money deemed to be more valuable and important than those who did not have as much. Though at this time, the rich and wealthy only made up a small percentage of than those of poorer societies. In primary sources 2,3,4 and 6, the documents focus on the american riots on the British laws and merchants who were against them. The riots in these documents discuss the protest on the stamp act. As many history books emphasize, the stamp act was something that affected people of all social classes because it made the cost to ships goods and mail more expensive and less people could profit. The sons of liberty were responsible for holding many of these riots against the British and merchants. The organization was filled with white men of a middle and upper class society who greatly influenced many americans because of their beliefs and demand for independence. Merchants, on