Camden Central High School

Camden, Tennessee

Teacher: Wanda Allen

Freedom: How It Happened

By Cassie Hassell

11th grade

It has been almost two hundred years since Thomas Jefferson wrote the inspiring words for the Declaration of Independence. They were approved and applauded by his co-signers of the Declaration and by men of good will everywhere. Many Americans didn’t realize the significance of the words “all men” included in this document. No one can actually say for sure what our fathers were thinking when they included these words, but historians were able to look back at the backgrounds of the colonists involved in the making of the Declaration and conclude that the term “men” referred to those people who had similar European background. It did not…include the [American] Indian,the African American [or women].

Many unhappy people immigrated to America in hopes of a better, freer life with more rights and freedoms. People journeyed from all over the world to make this great land their home. England established the Thirteen Colonies which became the start of [what is] toay the United States. Many of these settlers came to escape religious persecution, and others to avoid going to [debtors] prison.

Most people thought that by coming to America they would be gaining freedom, but there was a group of people that had no choice…. African Americans were forced…[They were] purchased in their native Africa and taken to America on slave ships. African Americans were not all slaves in the seventeenth century. In early court records they were listed as indentured servants. After working without pay for a certain number of years, some were given their freedom.

As years went on and more Africans were brought to America, economic changes took place and slavery took hold in this free country. African Americans struggled for many years to gain the equal rights and freedom that they so rightly deserved.

The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, and guaranteed the individual freedoms of all Americans. Even though we had been given these many basic rights it failed to fully cover the civil and human rights that belonged to the people. No exact standards were set for voting privileges and women’s rights. For African Americans, these and other rights were ignored. Slavery remained and began to grow rapidly.

Around the time of the Revolutionary War, the slaves’ rights to freedom began to be recognized. After the war had ended, many slaves were given the gift they had been hoping and praying for, their freedom. As time progressed more anti-slavery laws were passed… After many years of struggle for equal rights, citizenship, and desegregation, the African American was given the freedom they had wanted. Now, in the 21st century, African Americas have the same rights as everyone else, and they are rarely discriminated against. Just look at how far they’ve come since Thomas Jefferson first wrote the Declaration.

Not only were African Americans discriminated against, but so were women. For a long time, women were not able to be hired at a workplace or given the right to vote. After much fight and protest, the women finally won. On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified by the states, adding women’s voting rights to the Constitution.

I agree with the eighteenth century conservatives’ argument that “government must be a native growth, must emerge from the spontaneous evolution of the nation itself; from the spirit of the people.” I believe that the government must change and evolve as the nation itself evolves. As new and different people with different ideas, morals, and beliefs enter our [country] we are going to grow and change because of those people.

What does it mean to be an American? America means capitalism, free market, democracy, and competition. I think it means that you are given the freedom to do  many things. You have the freedom of speech, religion, and of choice. If you don’t like something about the government, you have the right to say so. You can be different without being persecuted. You can worship however you want and not be punished.

Over the years, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution have improved significantly. Even though the government has ensured liberty and justice for all, I believe it is up to each individual, as a citizen of this wonderful country, to look at each other as fellow Americans rather than judging each other by race, sex, religion, or morals. If everyone could do that then we would become more united and have a greater feeling of being an American citizens.

Answers To Questions To Required Reading

Q1- Explain, in your own words, the three developments in our culture that have contributed to the disorder Professor Huntington senses in the USA today.

A1- The first development in our culture that contributed to the disorder Professor Huntington senses in the USA today is multiculturalism. This belief ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, can take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging which could lead to many different cultures in the United States. The second is transnationalism. This concept contributes to the flow of people, goods and ideas between regions. This could lead to more cultural mixing. The last development Huntington discusses is “Hispanization of America”. I agree that if immigrants keep coming to America we will become a bilingual society, which would change what an American is altogether.

Q2- Define and discuss the American creed, the ideology that Professor Huntington cites as one of the historic sources of our national identity.

A2- The American creed is defined by the principles of the Declaration of Independence, individual rights and government by consent. Even though these principles should be practiced universal, we, as Americans, are given more rights and freedoms in our American creed than others. Because of this, our creed is part of our cultural identity.

Q3- Explain the difference between culture and creed, according to the Professor.

A3- Creed is more of a person’s individual rights and the government by which he or she lives. I see culture as more of a way of life. It’s your religion, beliefs, language, etc.

Q4- Professor Huntington thinks culture is more important than creed. Do you? Explain.

A4- I don’t necessarily agree with Professor Huntington. I agree that culture is important to life, but I think that creed is much more important. Your creed is what you stand for and what you believe in. I think that’s the most important thing an American should have. If each American went by creed then Americans would have much higher morals, values, and compassion for others.

Q5- Discuss “founding” as expressed by Aristotle’s Politics.

A5- Aristotle describes founding as basically making a whole new country. You give it unique features such as law, institutions, culture, etc. In addition to giving the newly made country all these features, you would also have to decide who rules this country and what the purposes are. This is all part of the “founding” expressed by Aristotle’s Politics.

Q6- Complete the sentence attributed to Aristotle’s thinking: “We are just free enough to _____________________________.”

A6- “We are just free enough to be able to take responsibility for the things in life we cannot choose—the geographical, economic, cultural, and other factors that condition our freedom but don’t abolish it.”

Q7- Which took precedence in the founding of America; natural law and rights of the British Constitution?

A7- Even though both natural law and rights and the British Constitution took part in founding America, I think that natural law and rights had precedence. The natural law and rights give us the right to defend ourselves, judge right from wrong, make moral judgments, etc. These laws and rights are what made America.

Q8- What was the reason for the traditional conservatives’ opposition to the rationalism that fueled the French Revolution?

A8- They opposed rationalism on the grounds that its universal principles destroyed society’s own traditions and culture. They thought that the government must be a native growth.

Q9- American Intelligence efforts uncovered a group of Taliban leaders attending a funeral. By current military terms of engagement no action could be taken against these “sitting duck” enemies. Why? Is this, in your opinion, a good or bad outcome? Defend your position.

A9- No military action could be taken against these Taliban leaders because, even though they are the enemy, they were doing no wrong. They were also attending a funeral, and it would be disrespectful to take them away for it. In my opinion, I don’t think there would be a bad outcome unless these Taliban were threatening to our country.

Q10- The Geneva Convention requires signatories, (the USA is one of a multitude of signatories) to enact their own laws in keeping with the ban against torture. Currently U.S. law prohibits conduct denigrating the dignity and rights of foreign prisoners that is so narrowly defined as to be codling in the opinion of many Americans. The military acknowledges that this conduct would not be reciprocated by Al Queda and Taliban terrorists.

Does this military code of conduct make you proud to be an American? Why or why not. If not, what should be done to correct the situation?

A10- I believe that any terrorists that are attacking our country should be punished to the fullest, disregarding their dignity and rights. If someone could do something so terrible, they should have to pay the price. I don’t exactly like the thought of someone being tortured, but if a group of Americans were to attack another country I’m sure the same thing would be done to us.

Q11- Can or should America impose its form of government on other nations?

A11- I don’t think America should impose its form of government on other nations. Even though our government gives more power to the people, I don’t think we should be able to tell other countries how to run. I think it would be a good idea to try and make other countries see that there are better ways to rule, but if they don’t like it then that’s their choice. I know I wouldn’t want someone to come over to the United States and tell us how to govern. I believe that goes just the same with other nations.
 

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