Equality is the state, or quality, of being equal. Equality has been a major issue in the United States since the 1700’s. People are constantly fighting to become equal in this country. African Americans, homosexuals, and women have had the biggest difficulties with equality. The constitution helps to eliminate many of the problems these people face. The 14th amendment states that it will equally protect all citizens of the United States. Furthermore, African Americans have been fighting for equality since before the 1800’s. They faced many problems with not being equal: slavery, not being considered U.S. citizens, and voting rights. The majority of African Americans brought to the United States were brought for the purpose of being someone’s slaves. African Americans were treated as property, rather than people, and could be bought in slave auctions. These slaves were used to pick crops and clean houses for the whites, but were never paid. Slavery did not officially end until the late 1800’s. Because of their race, they were not considered United States citizens. This prevented the African Americans from having the right to vote and being able to be employed in the U.S. In the 1860’s, the Civil Rights Act, along with the 14th amendment, …show more content…
Homosexuality is the romantic attraction, or sexual attraction, between members of the same gender. Many people have trouble accepting that people could be attracted to someone of the same gender. People say they do not believe in this because of their religion, the way they were raised, etc. Homosexuals have been battling with the courts since the 1900’s. In 2014, 31 states had constitutionally defined marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman; however, the other 19 states allowed same-sex marriage. Now, in 2015, approximately 37 states allow same-sex marriage. Tennessee is one of the states that does not allow people of the same sex to be