Question

The Declaration of Independence contains the famous words that “all men are created equal” and that all “unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Has American society lived up to the ideals mentioned in this sacred document or has the nation fallen short? You may discuss this question up through the modern era.

Answer 1

• The famous words contained by the declaration of Independence actually applied to white males only.
• This is clear from the fact that it was only after one hundred years later that black Americans were lastly recognized as equal to the whites to be permitted to vote.
• The words contained in the declaration had to wait for many more years to come to life. Women were granted the right to vote only after the passage of 150 years since the declaration.
• It must be kept in mind that ideals didn’t get transformed into reality fully and wholly and that it is never a done deal. Take another example of Mexican-American, African-Americans who faced discrimination in every aspect of life. African-Americans, Latinos and other deprived people didn’t achieve the rights bestowed to them.
• Killings of black by the police every year, other complaints of ethnic maltreatment at many work places, discrimination with dark students and the most recent engagement of Oracle in discriminatory practices towards thousands of its women, black and Asian employees and above given points clearly shows that American society tried to live up to the ideals mentioned in this sacred document but has not fully and completely delivered, hence needs to do much more to the extent that had been goal of its founding fathers.