The American spirit is one based upon principles of freedom, liberty, and the power of the people. When the founding fathers declared the nation’s independence from Great Britain, they claimed that all men were created equal, and noted that there are a few god-given rights, and that governments, deriving their power from the people governed, existed in order to secure these rights to their people.
Over the years, America has been known as the land of liberty, the world’s great sanctuary of freedom. Many come from all over the world to escape oppression, and to experience the freedom and safety that america has to offer. While America ensures far more, and more significant, liberties and rights than most of the countries on earth, there are …show more content…
Many claim that the oppression of the black people is still prevalent. However, Blacks have certainly been given the first amendment rights, such as those to free speech, free religion, freedom of press, etc. and they have been afforded the right to bear arms, the right to not be forced to house soldiers, the protection from double jeopardy, unreasonable search and seizure, self- incrimination, and have been guaranteed the right to due process, grand jury screening, and compensation for seizure due to eminent domain. They have been guaranteed the rights of the 7th, 8th, and 9th amendments. They have every right enumerated by the bill of rights. However, Before the year 1870, black people were not allowed to vote. In the year 1870, though, the constitution was amended, granting blacks the right to vote. In fact, data from the U.S Census Bureau states that black people vote at a rate of 66.2%, whereas non-hispanic whites vote at a rate of only 64.1% (File, 3). To say that black people do not have voting rights would be absolutely absurd, considering the evidence that they have recently been voting at a rate higher than whites. Many also claim that there exists a systemic oppression of women in america. Now, women also have every right enumerated in the bill of rights. However, before the year 1919, women were not allowed to vote. In the year 1919, the constitution was amended so that it would guarantee women the right to vote, giving women every constitutional right that men have. There haven’t been many cases of these groups being unable to vote recently, apart from those turned away due to the lack of government issued photo ID. One can conclude, then, that black people and women do in fact have equal rights, as far as the rights guaranteed by the government
Over the years, America has been known as the land of liberty, the world’s great sanctuary of freedom. Many come from all over the world to escape oppression, and to experience the freedom and safety that america has to offer. While America ensures far more, and more significant, liberties and rights than most of the countries on earth, there are …show more content…
Many claim that the oppression of the black people is still prevalent. However, Blacks have certainly been given the first amendment rights, such as those to free speech, free religion, freedom of press, etc. and they have been afforded the right to bear arms, the right to not be forced to house soldiers, the protection from double jeopardy, unreasonable search and seizure, self- incrimination, and have been guaranteed the right to due process, grand jury screening, and compensation for seizure due to eminent domain. They have been guaranteed the rights of the 7th, 8th, and 9th amendments. They have every right enumerated by the bill of rights. However, Before the year 1870, black people were not allowed to vote. In the year 1870, though, the constitution was amended, granting blacks the right to vote. In fact, data from the U.S Census Bureau states that black people vote at a rate of 66.2%, whereas non-hispanic whites vote at a rate of only 64.1% (File, 3). To say that black people do not have voting rights would be absolutely absurd, considering the evidence that they have recently been voting at a rate higher than whites. Many also claim that there exists a systemic oppression of women in america. Now, women also have every right enumerated in the bill of rights. However, before the year 1919, women were not allowed to vote. In the year 1919, the constitution was amended so that it would guarantee women the right to vote, giving women every constitutional right that men have. There haven’t been many cases of these groups being unable to vote recently, apart from those turned away due to the lack of government issued photo ID. One can conclude, then, that black people and women do in fact have equal rights, as far as the rights guaranteed by the government