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The Declaration Of Independence Of America - 1015 Words

Given that it will take more than one word that is three letters in length to answer this, I’ll go at it like this. This â€Å"proposition† that Lincoln spoke was, quite obviously, the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and ratified on July 4, 1776 by delegates of all 13 colonies, signifying the intention of the Colonies to break away from British rule after having found many of the actions of the Crown in the previous 15 years or so to be abominable in their eyes. So, if the question is to be asked about whether America was founded on this proposition, really the best way to answer it is to consider the context of those previous 15 years; during this time period, following the French and Indian War, a war largely fought in North American territory where both the French and the British had property interests to protect, with the British ultimately prevailing. This war was costly, which should come as no surprise, given the depth of the w ar and that it had been fought a long distance away from Britain itself. Figuring the Colonists would be glad to help re-pay the Brits after their help in protecting the Colonies, the Crown imposed a few taxes on them; much to the shock of the Crown and Parliament, the Colonists appealed against these taxes and spoke out against the Crown as such. Without getting to deep into the nuances of this, what happened in the Colonies as Parliament kept levying taxes on various items, only for the Colonists to protest theseShow MoreRelatedAmerica s Declaration Of Independence1356 Words   |  6 Pagessince the beginning of the â€Å"Land of the free and home of the brave†, America has held itself to a certain cluster of standards. The framework done by our founding fathers was not to form a country that would please the people in the beginning, but to be able to survive and thrive in the new upcoming and technological advancing world. Those standards that were so brilliantly written into the nation’s Declaration of Independence claimed that everyone was entitled to â€Å"certain unalienable rights† andRead MoreAmerica Is Failing By The Declaration Of Independence1565 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica is failing. The very foundation and core beliefs that we hold so dear are a distant speck to our reality. This land is supposed to be rife with opportunities for success. But instead, most find themselves at a disadvantage from the beginning, and burdened by the weight of their expenses. Millions of Americans struggle to put food on the table, pay off debts from a higher education, afford healthcare for themselves and their family, and live comfortably. As proclaimed by the Declaration ofRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States Of America1062 Words   |  5 Pages The United States of America is known as a place of God-given rights and equality for a diverse group of people. Since the founding of America, it was built off of the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrates. Yet, since the primeval years of this nation’s commencement, African American women rights have been adjusted or eliminated becauseRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States Of America Essay1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe Declaration of Independence allowed the colonies of the United States of America their own governmental structure. After the war with Britain, the United States sought out a structure giving the citizens of America their own rights. These rights include: freedom of speech, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, freedom of religion, the ability to make their own decisions, own form of government and taxation and more. The declaration was made by the merchant class of America, the foundingRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence Of The United States Of America Essay1481 Words   |  6 Pageshas served as the foundation of Justice in the United States of America. However, throughout history we’ve also witnessed and learned about events, presidential terms, and cultural and demographic evidence that show how the Pillars of Citizenship have not successfully worked toward the achievement of significant milestones that pertain to nationalization, globalization and equality up to this very day. The Declaration of Independence states that every citizen is granted the right to life, libertyRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States Of America Essay1411 Words   |  6 Pagesoldest documents, which have served as the foundation of the United States of America. Throughout history we’ve witnessed events, presidential terms, and cultural and demographical evidence that show how the Pillars of Citizenship have not successfully worked toward executing the achievement of important milestones amongst nationalization, globalization and equality up to this very day. The Declaration of Independence states that every citizen is granted the right to life, liberty and pursuit ofRead MoreThe Declaration of Independence of the United States of America3256 Words   |  14 PagesIN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separationRead MoreDeclaration of Independence and the Beginning of Womens Rights Movement in America1226 Words   |  5 Pagescenturies ago, a document was written that announced the independence of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain. That document, The Declaration of Independence, indicated that a new country was born, oppression in the New World would come to an end and new-found individual freedoms for citizens of America would become a reality. Thomas Jefferson ideals expressed in The Declaration of Independence was a stepping stone to the foundation of America. Many of Jeffersonâ⠂¬â„¢s ideals expressed his concern forRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The Second President Of The United States Of America1656 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States of America, was born on April 13, 1743. The future president was born to the parents of Peter Jefferson, a well-known and successful planter, and Jane Randolph, a prominent member of a very well-known and distinguished Virginian family. Jefferson was the third of ten children who were raised on the Shadwell slave plantation in Virginia. Starting from the early age of nine, Thomas Jefferson beganRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : America s Political Philosophy And Its Way Of Life Essay1755 Words   |  8 PagesThe Declaration of Independence is still a profoundly relevant document for our time, in the political philosophy it espouses, as well as it’s keen view of human nature and its examination of our d esire for freedom and happiness. It is also a known document that binds our nation together as one for â€Å"Life, Liberty and the  pursuit of Happiness.† I believe the Declaration of Independence still accurately reflects America’s political philosophy and its way of life as we see today. Because the Declaration

Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment Essay Example For Students

Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment? Essay In order to determine whether the death penalty is to be considered cruel and unusual punishment, it is necessary to first define each word in order to get full understanding of the issue being assessed. According to the Merriam-Webster collegiate dictionary, cruel is defined as: disposed to inflict pain or suffering devoid of humane feelings. Unusual is defined as: not usual, uncommon, or rare. Punishment is defined as: suffering pain or loss that serves as retribution. Should capital punishment be viewed as retribution used to cause pain or suffering without humane feelings, and is it uncommon?The message that is sent out by killing a murderer is If you kill, we kill. Punishment by death is the ultimate punishment and one that cannot be taken back. A jury is instructed to determine guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but with a punishment as final as death, any doubt should be reason enough for a person to live. Forcing a jury to decide whether a person should live or die is wrong. If the jury decides the person should die, then they have just committed the same crime they just sentenced someone to die for, murder. The jury then has to live with the fact that they killed someone. Just this stress put on the jury is enough to call the death penalty inhumane, not to mention the years the inmate will have to sit on death row knowing that at any time, it could be their turn to be strapped in to die. As far as the death penalty being unusual, since the U. S. is the only western democracy to still use the death penalty, it would be safe to say this punishment is uncommon.The death penalty should not be carried out in any case. Some look at it as an eye for an eye, but as Mahatma Gandhi once said, An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind. As we head into the next millennium, it is time we modernize our punishments of criminals just as we have modernized every other aspect of our lives.

School Uniforms Persuasive Essay free essay sample

Today, many schools around the world enforce uniforms, requiring students to wear specific clothing. School uniforms, which was first established in 16th century England, are a topic of much debate in the public school system of the United States. Many people feel that uniforms reduce competition among students and bring a sense of unity in school. People who are against school uniforms think that they prevent students from expressing themselves and inhibits creativity. Many students dislike school uniforms because uniforms can be viewed as a violation of their rights, while others benefit from uniforms because it relieves the stress of picking what to wear to school. Although school uniforms do have its benefits, they also limit self-expression. School uniforms are said to create a sense of equality among students. With every student wearing the same clothing, there are less indicators of wealth between what people wear, so less students are bullied for the clothes they wear. While that may be true for some, bullies don’t always make fun of their targets based on their clothing. There are many other aspects of people that are unaffected by uniforms ,which, bullies can use to bully them. It might be their hair or skin color, or the culture they’re from that causes the bullying. For example, students might get made fun of because of their race or the stereotypes that applies to them. Uniforms won’t protect students from bullying because clothing isn’t the only thing that bullies look at. School uniforms can help improve the feeling of unity within schools, but pride in one’s school is dependent on being distinct and different from another school. There is rivalry between schools and school uniforms can lead to students being beaten up or worse. For example, in New Zealand, a boy was beaten up by boys from a rival school. The boy said that the boys told him he should be shot because he went to a different school, which they could deduce from the uniform he’s wearing. School uniforms may give students a sense of pride and unity , but that comes with a chance of danger. It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems. Some critics say that school uniforms increase the amount of clothing that parents have to buy for their children, meaning that they would have to spend more money. Students wouldn’t wear their uniforms outside of school, so parents would have to buy casual clothing for their child to wear outside of school. School uniforms may cost a hundred dollars or more per set and students would need at least 3 sets of uniforms for the week. Uniforms may be a financial burden for poor families, especially for ones that have many children. Parents would also have to buy new uniforms when their child outgrows the last. Students would be more comfortable wearing casual clothing to school and it would reduce the burden on their families financially. The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of expression. This many believe is violated by establishing mandatory school uniforms. The ability of students to express themselves are limited when they are forced to wear the same clothing as everyone else. Students use the way they dress to express themselves and to identify with certain social groups. Many students lose their self- identity when they lose their right to express themselves through fashion. Students should be able to experiment with their own individuality as it helps with shaping their character. School uniforms also violate the students’ right to freedom of religion, guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. If students are religious, they should be allowed to wear the clothes that express their religion, but school uniforms restrict this right. Religious beliefs can be valuable and important to many students, giving their lives a great deal of meaning and structure. It can also inspire them to work hard and behave in a school environment. Some religions greatly value symbols of faith, such as headdresses and bracelets. School uniforms sometimes don’t support the students’ religious beliefs. For example, school skirts are often not long enough for Muslim girls, who believe that they should cover most of their bodies. Students should be able to follow the values that they hold so close. While some schools in the U. S. enforce uniforms, many schools have dress codes. Dress codes are similar to uniforms, but without the many disadvantages. Uniforms force students to wear the same clothes, while dress codes give students many choices of clothing. Dress codes only prevent students from wearing inappropriate clothing to school instead of forcing them to wear specific clothing. Students are more comfortable that way and still get to express themselves through fashion. In conclusion, school uniforms aren’t as beneficial as they appear to be. It should be the students’ right to be able to wear appropriate clothing of their choice in school. This allows them to experiment with their creativity and develop their personality. Schools should promote diversity instead of equality by wearing the same clothing, because everyone is different and unique. Diversity helps people become friends as it helps sparks interest in each other. Clothing expresses a person’s unique personality and culture. It should be a person’s right to be able to show everyone their true colors.