Contribution Of Ideals Postulated In The Declaration Of Independence, The Constitution, And The Emancipation Proclamation To The Black Struggle For Justice

Running head: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

Contribution of ideals postulated in the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the

emancipation proclamation to the black struggle for justice

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The Declaration of Independence is the main document drafted by Thomas Jefferson that

commemorates and defines the birth and independence of United States nation from the British

Empire. The Constitution along with its Bill of Rights defines and represents United States form

of government; it also outlines specific main principles and laws. The Emancipation

Proclamation is a document issued by Abraham Lincoln in the year 1963 with an intention of

freeing slaves in all parts of the Unites States.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

Ideals postulated in the Declaration of Independence contributed negatively to the black

struggle for justice. The ideals Jefferson postulated in trying to convince fellow American

citizens that political and social development could not possible within empire of British did not

concentrate on status of black people.

Independence from Britain struggle seeked personal independence and equality that would

not discriminate gender, race and class. However, justice of the black people was not addressed

in the Declaration of Independence as the new 13 states supported slavery. They undesirably

restricted rights of blacks by using property qualifications in determining right of those who can

vote and made women inferior. Therefore, ideals postulated in the Declaration did not claim

equality and perfect justice, instead; it challenged generation revolution and all citizens who

were trying to bring the ideals near to reality.

The civil war against independence freedom took place and after it ended, blacks insisted in

securing greater equality and freedom. In the early 1900s, movements for civil rights were still

on but white people solidly resisted. In addition, the country later witnessed the strength in

movement for equality and freedom during the years 1950s and 1960s but white people refused.

They still oppose these changes of racial discrimination to date. An example here is Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr., who noticed the main problem of whites not understanding the struggle for

justice and liberty among blacks and tried to get them understand but they again opposed.

Ideals postulated in the Constitution were colorblind, as it did not address the inequality state

afflicting the black people. In the middle of 1960s, Civil Rights Act in the Constitution was

enacted but “equality before the law” exposed its harsh truth to be the struggle it intended to

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

obscure among the blacks. The ideals civil rights guaranteed were that legal equality was

inadequate in redressing the inequality state affecting black people.

The arguments about the Constitution being color-blind arose and the encouraging action

against or for it was the subject. Moreover, this argument came from “legal equality before the

law” Charles (1780) among black people struggle. Even though there was an argument on racial

discrimination issues, it still occupied the nation. A good example here is the Massachusetts

whose constitution was added to the United States’ with an intention of including blacks in the

nation. Although they tried to provide equality, some cities in Massachusetts separated schools

for white and black children and provided a statue of forbidding marriage between different

races.

According to Taylor, Francis (2001), racial inequality attack draws a line between “social

policy” and “antidiscrimination law.” It is also not included in the Constitution as a principle but

rather be recognized as political, social, and mental commitment in the nation. Hence, the

Constitution later identifies norms that discriminate allowed and non-allowed uses of race. This

ideal contributed positively to the struggle of blacks for justice.

In the United States the year 1860, 3.9 million and above blacks were enslaved and in some

states like Mississippi and South Carolina, the enslaved were more than half of the entire

population. Abraham Lincoln ideals stipulated on Emancipation Proclamation to the black

struggle for justice became a success as it shaped United States nation’s future. Therefore, it

positively contributed to the black struggle for justice.

The brutal and bloody civil war for national unity erupted in the year 1862 in the United States

between the northern states that were not supporting slavery and southern ones that favored it.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

The Northern states were strongly against this act of slavery and they believed that Southern

states had no right as per constitution to form their own laws by seceding.

President Lincoln tried to keep unity by ending slavery in the year 1863 by giving orders in

freeing slaves in the southern states that rebelled. However, this did not work thus changing the

war from a reunifying one to slavery freedom. This Proclamation permitted slaves who were

freed to join Union Army and soon became many in numbers thus joined a fight against the

south. These efforts were a success as it barred European powers like France and Britain to help

the southern states.

Slavery was eminent in states such as Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana with more

than 40% of the slaves’ population. As many states in the United States started seceding to form

a Confederate, they were upset that northern states refused to return slaves who ran away. Even

though they complained, lastly they feared the new President who was elected that he would

come up with an Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery in the nation.

In conclusion, the ideals postulated in the Declaration of Independence negatively

contributed to the Black struggle for justice. On the other hand, the Constitution contributed both

negatively and positively whereas the Emancipation Proclamation brought a positive impact.

Thomas Jefferson tried to fight for justice and equality of black people whereas the Constitution

identified norms to get rid of racial discrimination. In addition, President Lincoln freed slaves

and changes lies of black people. The far-reaching consequences of racial discrimination and

slavery affected the black people but leaders fought for their freedom. In the current society,

discrimination is minimal and no more slavery in the United States of America.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TO THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

References

Boyer, P. S. (2006). The enduring vision: A history of the American people. Princeton, NJ: Cengage

Learning, 2012.

Darling, M. J. (2001). Race, voting, redistricting and the constitution: Sources and explorations on the

fifteenth amendment.

Kull, A. (1994). The color-blind constitution.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Retrieved from https://usembassykyiv.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/the-struggle-

for-civil-rights-from-the-emancipation-proclamation-to-martin-luther-king-jr/

Morrow, D. (2013, January 22). The Struggle for Civil Rights: From the Emancipation Proclamation.

Moore, W. L. (2008). Reproducing racism: White space, elite law schools, and racial inequality.

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