The Importance Of Equality In The Declaration Of Independence, By John Calhoun

The idea of all men are created equal is specious because there were Slavery, and women did not have equal rights as men. Sources A, B, C, D, show how the statement “all men are created equal” is hypocritical. The Declaration of Independence, from Source A, provides the reader that the Declaration of Natural Rights is false. In Source B, the letter from Abigail Adams shows how men had “unlimited power,” and women did not have the ability to vote, own property, or speak out in Congress. In Source C, it conveys how Slavery provoked unfair rights, embittered lives, and the loss of natural rights.

Oppression, as long as it exists, reverses the Declaration of Independence as a statement of rights stretched to all. In the Declaration of Independence it writes, “We hold these Truths to be self evident that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence 1). This part of the Declaration was heavily influenced by John Locke's Second Treatise of Government, which states that all, “men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and property.” (Locke 1). Although Douglas believes this to be untrue due to slavery and the harsh relationship between whites and blacks in our society at that time.

With equality, this includes freedom, democracy and equal rights to all people no matter what race, gender or class they fall on. Unfortunately, the rise of slavery made it apparent that the “all men are created equal” didn’t mean anything among African Americans based on their unequal treatments. Like we discussed in class, slavery created tension between the North and South especially when the Second Middle Passage took in effect. The Second Middle passage was a horrifying event and the slaves were treated like cargo on the ships for months on their way to America. It was important because millions of African Americans were forced to leave their families, transported on ships to get beaten, face physical and mental abuse and sold alive or dead.

The most important parts of the Declaration are Equality, The Unalienable Rights, and the Consent of The Governed. In the Declaration of Independence we were sure to include Equality. In the Declaration it says “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” This quote says all human beings, regardless of religion, sex, or skin color, possess the same natural rights.

Philosophical ideas impacted human history, particularly in government. Niccolo Machiavelli and John Locke ideation molded human history on how power should be divided equally amongst the people and the ruler. Their theories began the steps to construction of the U.S government. Machiavelli ideas migrated the power in monarchies away form the power of the church to the King/Queen. Particularly starting in Florence during the renaissance and political enlightenment.

Even today in our society we still follow The Declaration of Independence. The quote "All men are created equally" for us mean that, All U.S citizen are the same, we have have the same equal rights and no one is differently when it comes to laws. In the novelette equality

President Obama uses various allusions throughout his second Inaugural Address to convey the idea that all people are equal, more specifically, American citizens. He also suggests that if we all work as one, the United States will flourish. To begin with, he says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." President Obama alludes to the Declaration of Independence to remind every citizen that this country is based on equality.

Locke’s view on this was that all decisions are based on morality. That it was God’s commands that they should

The authors of these texts and speeches believe that all men are created equal and have inalienable rights because those rights are endowed to us by our “Creator.” Patrick Henry supports this belief when he asserts ”If we wish to be free-if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending-if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained-we must fight!” This quote supports Henry’s desire for equality and individual freedoms because he says “and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall

Albeit Aristotle and Locke lived 2,000 years apart, their periods in history were similar. Both eras were marked by wars, tyrannical figures, and political and social instability in ancient Greece and medieval England. However, there was one major difference in their epochs, religion. The Greeks practice polytheism, while Christianity was practiced in Europe during Locke’s time.

The Declaration of Independence states: “that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence is a written version of our rights as humans in America. It is saying that every person is equal, with equal opportunities. The people are given rights at birth that can not be taken away. The document gives all the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as basic human rights.

While Locke was learning everything from John Owen at Christ Church, he was heavily influenced about religious toleration, and it stuck with him throughout his journey as a philosopher. He believed people should not be persecuted for the

Therefore, based on the above, I am clearly in support of Locke's theory in comparison with the one his opponent. The distinct reasons why I consider such a position are discussed

John Locke formulated theories insinuating religious tolerance. He stated that earthly judges including the state and individuals should not evaluate truths pertaining to religious leanings. Religion should not be induced on people and no single religion should be passed as being genuine. Violence cannot be effectively used to compel people towards a religious orientation. Trying to enforce religious uniformity would kill diversity and create social disorder (Broers 1).

In his Letter Concerning Toleration, John Locke states that, above all things, he finds it “necessary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other. ”1 This argument can be defied by analyzing the definitions of moral law, real justice, and how they work together. It is impossible to execute justice in civil affairs without reference to moral law. Civil affairs and morality must coincide to execute justice in a state. Moral law is “a rule or group of rules conceived as universal and unchanging and as having the sanction of God 's will, of conscience, of man 's moral nature, or of natural justice as revealed to human reason.