Women's History Month Dbq Research Paper

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Black History Month was just a month ago. Women's History Month is being celebrated this month. Yet some people don't realize is that these are two groups that have fought for equality for the longest times. It took over 80 years for African Americans to be freedmen, and almost 150 years for women to get one of the basic rights of an American citizen. How these battles started goes back to July 4th, 1776, when the United states of America declared independence from Great Britain. Equality was one of the core values that sought to be separated from Britain. Even though the country was founded on the idea of equality, specific groups have lacked the treatment or right promised to all American citizens. Whether it was the fight against slavery …show more content…

Slavery had been a highly debated issue, and it was decided that it was perfectly just to have it allowed in the country. It was quite shocking that slavery was carried out for such as long period of time. For example, it is said in the Declaration of Independence that ¨All men are created equal,¨ with the guaranteed rights of ¨Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.¨ (Document A) Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are a part of the founding ideals. Yet, slavery grants none of this. In fact, it does quite the opposite. It takes them away from African American citizens, just because of their race and color. Additionally, Ben Franklin states that even though America's population is diverse in color, race and religion, that doesn't mean you can't take away their basic rights. (Document B) America is supposed to be diverse nation. It is what sets it apart from many countries. It is unjust to have the practice of slavery, since it is against equality, and it lacks the fair treatment previously promised. Finally, John Brown goes against slavery, saying that it is evil and it could destroy a nation. (Document D) Brown mentions that slavery can destroy a nation. In the case of the United States, it very well can. It is almost as the country's people turned against each other. With the Declaration of Independence, African Americans knew that they deserved much better than what …show more content…

Equality is not just fair treatment. In America, it also means that all American citizens get the the same rights, that should be protected by the government, promised by the founding fathers. Definitely the most controversial one was voting. Voting helped make the country a Democracy, allowing the most common of people to be represented in the national government. However, women did not get this basic right for years after 1776. For instance, it is mentioned that the government is supposed to protect the rights of all citizens, especially the weakest. (Document C) The Declaration states that all citizens are granted natural born rights. One of those is voting. If you take those rights away, you are shifty towards a communist union. The government is supposed to be the voice of the weak, since they cannot speak for themselves. Furthermore, ¨The only question left to be settles now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens: and no state has a right to make any law, or enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities.¨ (Document E) As Susan B. Anthony stated in this part of her speech, women are people. They have been around just as long as men have. Yet, half of the country's population doesn't have the basic right of an American citizen, even though they