Has equality made America freer - Research Paper Example

Due to this, a number of revolts of the slaves were recorded in the 18th up to the early 19th century. (Fede, p. 27) These revolts were caused by the injustices, discrimination and maltreatment to the slaves and to the black community. Due to these revolts, there were some states in the US that abolished slavery. The first state to abolish slavery was Rhode Island in 1774. This act of abolition intensified the hunger of the slaves and the black community for total eradication of the inequalities (Surname) 2 happening in the land.

The abolition was followed by Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey which transpired from 1777 to 1804. Although the importation of slaves from other countries was banned, selling of slaves continued within the US. (Osborne, p. 11) In 1831, The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper was founded by William Garrison and soon thereafter, the American Anti-Slavery Society was formed. A movement of white anti-slavery Protestants was based on the principles of the Second Great Awakening.

Theodore Weld led the liberation of slaves. Caused by the fact that revolts had been here and there, the Congress got tired of the abolitionists. Slavery and discrimination went on even in States where slavery was not allowed. African Americans took on principal roles in the abolition which dominated most part of the South. Both Frederick Douglass (The North Star) and David Walker took part in the revolt against the white tyranny. The Underground Railroad helped slaves to escape from the South. (Fede, p. 43) This fight over equality by the slaves and the black community went on until the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

President Lincoln thought that the proclamation would be seen as a temporary measure to the war. Immediately thereafter, in 1864, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed by the Senate followed by the by the House on January 31, 1865. This states that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” (Sundquist, p. 32) (Surname) 3 This amendment was adopted on December 18 of the same year and completely abolished slavery.

The US has indeed gone a long way towards the concept of equality which they fought for a tremendous amount of time. The seemed-to-be never-ending battle over slavery officially ended in the reign of the Former President Lincoln. The Thirteenth Amendment was followed by the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 which stated that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

” (Sottiaux, p. 117) Two years after, the Fifteenth Amendment was adopte