The Declaration Of Independence: Historical Document That Broke The Chains Of Oppression

Thomas Jefferson was trying to break his ties with the harsh and non-democratic rule of the British and begin a new, equal society and government for America. The Declaration of Independence was to break ties with the british but was hypocritical in itself. There was no mention of women rights, slaves and the statement all men are created equal.

Women were not mentioned or brought up in the Declaration of Independence. It did not discuss women’s rights and what Independence would mean for them. The declaration granted all white males the right to vote, but women did not receive the same right. How can the Declaration of Independence argue that it brought equality when women were not granted equal rights to men? Elaine Crane supports this view and shares the view of Charles Brown in her writings where she writes “Brown argued through his protagonist that the denial of the vote to women violated “pretensions to equality and liberty” and that it was a “gross abuse” for women to be thus foreclosed from a political voice.” (Elaine Crane, 1987).

The promise of equality and liberty was one which women heard from the Declaration of Independence. Women were still having to deal with domestic sphere philosophy, one which labelled them as nothing more than housekeepers and mothers to their children. Women wanted more, women wanted to be able to seen in a professional light and were still being held back by society.

Even in this time women wanted to be equal were not seen the same. Back in those times they were mostly housewives nother the more and they cooked and cleaned. Women till this day fight the same struggles. Even though it has been more the one hundred plus years that they have gained the right to vote and are able to work. In an article I have read it states “The 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle; victory took decades of agitation and protest.

Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution. Few early supporters lived to see final victory in 1920” ( Ourdocuments). This bill did not pass till the 1920 which would less than a hundred years ago. This shows the milestones we have accomplished over the centuries.

Americans were tired of being taxed by the British without proper representation. In an article I read it stated “ the rallying cry of the American Revolution — gives the impression that taxation was the principal irritant between Britain and its American colonies. But, in fact, taxes in the colonies were much lower than taxes in Britain. The central grievance of the colonists was their lack of a voice in the government that ruled them.” ( what was wrong about taxes and the american revolution). This article gave me in site of the hardship the american people faced when trying to become better than where they came from. They may have not wanted to pull away if they had representation but they did not receive any which enraged the people. Thus making them want to pull away.

Also the article states “When the colonies asked for representation in the middle of the 18th century, the monarchy was still recovering from its dethroning, and the landed gentry, now returned to primary power, still felt vulnerable. The researchers point out that the Royalists were contending with factions that sought to bring democracy to Britain” ” ( what was wrong about taxes and the american revolution). This factor of the dethroning of the old king could have played a major role which sought the people not receiving what they wanted.

Thomas Jefferson did like slavery. But in many articles I have read he was owning too hundred slaves himself. How does a president who wants everyone to have an equal opportunity but in slave people who he thought were three fifths of a person? He lived in a state which allowed slavery. In an article i have read it states “ Throughout his entire life, Thomas Jefferson was publicly a consistent opponent of slavery.

Calling it a “moral depravity” and a “hideous blot,” he believed that slavery presented the greatest threat to the survival of the new American nation.Jefferson also thought that slavery was contrary to the laws of nature, which decreed that everyone had a right to personal liberty. These views were radical in a world where unfree labor was the norm” ( Monticello). He believed he was helping the African Americans because he was showing them how the white settlers were acting and how civilized they were. Since he thought the were inferior to the whites. He was not seeking freedom for everyone he believed all whites should have the right to vote except the women and slaves. Before the bill was introduced only wealth white plantation owners could vote.

The Declaration of Indepence was not just a document that allowed America to pull away from British control but it was hypocritical nother the less. From all men being equal which only applied to the white men not just the plantation owners to women not being able to vote. African Americans were only three fifths when they were able to vote.