Freedom vs. equality in us goverment, History

Assignment Help:

Freedom vs. Equality

The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, asserts that human beings "are created equal," and that they possess the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." While the Declaration offered a stirring call to arms and a ringing endorsement of freedom and equality, the Constitution, written after the American Revolution's end, is a more sober document, designed to create a stable form of government for the new nation. The Preamble states that the Constitution is intended to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," the original Constitution says nothing about citizens' equality. The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments, added to the Constitution in 1791) does promise equal treatment under the laws.

Since the revolution, Americans have continued to debate the meaning of terms such as freedom and equality. For many Americans, these terms entail equality of opportunity. That is, they believe that the United States ought to be a society in which citizens have an equal opportunity to compete, and to succeed or fail according to their intelligence and efforts. Government, according to this view, should create a fair, "level playing field" so that all citizens have an equal chance to exercise their abilities.

 


Related Discussions:- Freedom vs. equality in us goverment

Has the cuban revolution been a success, In your opinion, has the Cuban Rev...

In your opinion, has the Cuban Revolution been a success? Using the lectures, readings, and videos over the entire course, write an analytical essay to support your answer. Remembe

Outbreak of the first world war, 1. Historians often refer to the year 1945...

1. Historians often refer to the year 1945 as marking the end of the Age of Europe. What do they mean? How (or how not) has Europe's post-war history followed a fundamentally diffe

Explain american foreign policies in third world countries, American foreig...

American foreign policies in Third World countries were determined by Cold War doctrine. Explain American foreign policy in the Third World during the second half of the twentieth

U.s. system served the citizenry well, In virtually all foreign countries a...

In virtually all foreign countries a person cannot become a federal judge unless he or she has first attended a formal college for judges, has passed a rigid set of exams, or has h

About the navigation system, search on line to learn about the Navigation S...

search on line to learn about the Navigation System and answer the following question here: In what ways was the Navigation System good for the colonies?

There can be no permanent modus vivendi, According to Kennan, why did the o...

According to Kennan, why did the official Soviet view of the United States emphasize that "there can be no permanent modus vivendi"?

Dialectical arguments in key chapters of the noli me tangere, Why do you th...

Why do you think that the author Jose Protacio Rizal presented dialectical arguments in key chapters of the Noli Me Tangere?

What was martin luther religious doctrine, What was Martin Luther religious...

What was Martin Luther religious doctrine and what influence did his ideas have on Western Europe?

Age of indian prophesy, Define the following term and explain it's importan...

Define the following term and explain it's importance: Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh, and the age of Indian prophesy

Write about holy roman empire, The Holy Roman Empire In the central pa...

The Holy Roman Empire In the central part of Europe, one of the regions formerly part of the Roman Empire became known as the "Holy Roman Empire." Although it did not include t

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd