Question

I observed that, while a lot of founders talked a lot about equality and individual rights, they did not usually act on those beliefs. they completely ignored the rights of women, american indians, and enslaved and free african americans. i would imagine that enslaved and free african americans felt angry, afraid, and unsafe hearing their human rights being debated. i would imagine they felt that these men didn't care for their well being at all and could never be trusted. the men who wrote the constitution did not have the courage to be consistent in their beliefs. they pretended to care about freedom and equality when it suited their own needs but were happy to ignore those beliefs when they affected anyone else. the consequences of their hypocrisy is still felt in the rampant racial and economic inequalities present today. connect and reflect reflect on the assessment by answering these questions: what surprised you? how did this activity help you better understand the contradictions present during the founding of the us? did it change your thinking about current events in any way? note what you learned and what challenged you

Answer 1

The founding of the United States was marked by a significant contradiction; while the founders advocated for equality and rights, they failed to provide these rights to women, American Indians, and African Americans. The realization of equality was slow, affected by economic interests and fear of majority rule, maintaining a legacy of racial and economic inequalities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discussion of how founders talked a lot about equality and individual rights but failed to act on those beliefs revealed a stark contradiction in the formation of the United States. Despite the promise of equality in the Declaration of Independence, the rights of women, American Indians, and enslaved and free African Americans were blatantly ignored. This highlights the discrepancy between the founding ideals and the founders' practice, wherein rights and freedoms were reserved for White men of property. Through the exploration of this topic, we uncover the foundational hypocrisy that had long-lasting implications, including the racial and economic inequalities we still witness today.

The founders hoped that slavery would vanish but following the rise of the cotton industry and the advent of the cotton gin, these hopes were dashed by economic interests. Even as advocates like Jefferson acknowledged that slavery was a "hideous blot" on the nation, they lacked the courage to take definitive action against it, leading to compromises such as the Three-Fifths Compromise in the Constitution.

Rights and freedoms as set forth at the time of America's founding were limited and discriminatory, with many groups left disenfranchised. This understanding of early American history challenges us to reflect on our current values and the ongoing process of realizing the promise of equality for all.