Freedom is a hard word to define because freedom means different things to different people. To some people, freedom is to be completely self-governed; to others it may mean freedom to have control of others. The founding fathers established their interpretation of freedom over 200 years ago in the Constitution. Since then, countless changes have been made in the definition as well as who had rights to these privileges. In my opinion, when a small population has more privileges than others, there tends to be a loss of freedom for the common people.
In early America, certain groups had so much freedom that they undermined basic human rights to a vast majority of the country. White men had the most freedom when it came to land, slaves and women. The definition of an independent citizen was someone who owns property and possesses virtue. The native americans were stripped of their right to land, Africans were considered property, and women could not be independent citizen. This idea of freedom allowed white men to believe in their limitless freedom and oppressed others by doing so.
Before America was founded, the Native Americas …show more content…
It leaked into every home in America, shaping the mindset of men and women. Women became the last frontier in the battle for privileged freedoms. As a woman you were not thought of as anymore than your husband 's wife. Women’s job was to be a good wife, mother and caretakers while the husband’s job was to bring money home. Women were seen as property people did not see you as an individual but just a man’s wife. Women were not allowed to work and college was not possible. In Voices of Freedom, Judith Sargent Murray has an article called On the Equality of the Sexes, an article she wrote for a college she could not attend because of her sex. Although amendments were made to the constitution, freedom was not given to all and it is still apparent in our day to day
In early America, certain groups had so much freedom that they undermined basic human rights to a vast majority of the country. White men had the most freedom when it came to land, slaves and women. The definition of an independent citizen was someone who owns property and possesses virtue. The native americans were stripped of their right to land, Africans were considered property, and women could not be independent citizen. This idea of freedom allowed white men to believe in their limitless freedom and oppressed others by doing so.
Before America was founded, the Native Americas …show more content…
It leaked into every home in America, shaping the mindset of men and women. Women became the last frontier in the battle for privileged freedoms. As a woman you were not thought of as anymore than your husband 's wife. Women’s job was to be a good wife, mother and caretakers while the husband’s job was to bring money home. Women were seen as property people did not see you as an individual but just a man’s wife. Women were not allowed to work and college was not possible. In Voices of Freedom, Judith Sargent Murray has an article called On the Equality of the Sexes, an article she wrote for a college she could not attend because of her sex. Although amendments were made to the constitution, freedom was not given to all and it is still apparent in our day to day