Day 4

Day 4 Blog
American Notions of Equality
Even hundreds of years later after our country were founded; we are still having problems with equality. Equality is and was a big issue among America. In each of the readings assigned for today, equality is present in different notions. Over two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers were supporting the “Declaration of Independence” written by Thomas Jefferson. In this sacred document, he talked about how “all men are created equal” and “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” He names off all of the terrible things that the king has done upon the poor colonies that does not make them equal to that of Britain, such as refusing “to pass other Laws” and “cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.” Also, he has kept “Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures” and has been “imposing Taxes.” He asks Americans why we have moved and settled in America, and it is our time for equality and democracy which he defines as “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and out to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States…do.” Religion is a factor in this document in the beginning where it states “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Basically, Jefferson is saying that as human beings, God has given us rights that we must not be denied, and Great Britain is denying us of these rights. This document is ever present today in the United States and supports contemporary notions of equality. We as Americans are subject to our rights as humans and should not be controlled by another country. We have the right to vote and run in office. We are our government, and it is run by our own people. We mustn’t be controlled by other countries, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep our independence.
However, in Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, it is evident that not all men were being treated equally. Rather, we had the horrible event of slavery upon us. This poem starts off in a positive manner, whereas this young girl is happy to be brought to America because “’twas mercy.” It was because of being brought to America where this girl learned “that there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too.” She says how this God has taught her so much. In America she sees how people look at her “sable race with scornful eye,” however, one day she knows that God will make them all equal and all will “join th’angelic train.” These are some pretty powerful words. It is evident that the young girl in this poem has some very strong faith. In this poem, Wheatley knows that there is not equality among the races yet, however, she does have the strength and faith within God that there will be soon. It is evident in the poem that there is not mention of when this equality will occur, but she knows that it will. Wheatley conceives equality and democracy in America of when people will not look at “our sable race with scornful eye”, and all men will be created equal. She wants people to not be judged because of the color of their skin, and she does not want skin color to be a deciding factor in equality. I believe that our contemporary notion of equality in America reflects this poem. This poem is a perfect example of how the “perfect” America would be. Yes, we want all men to be treated equally and not be judged on the color of their skin, but I do not believe that we can say that this is the case yet. We Americans, like Wheatley, want equality of the races, yet like her, we do not know when it will come.
Thomas Paine’s, “The Crisis”, speaks most powerfully to me of all the assigned readings today. It is similar to the Declaration of independence where it acts as a way of angering the people of the colonies and “firing” them up, just as the Declaration did when talking about all the terrible things that the king has done to the colonies. The short pamphlet starts out by saying that we are in hard times right now, and “these are the times that try men’s souls.” But, these hard times, are expected. We want freedom, but freedom is difficult to obtain. This will be difficult because if you want something that is important, it will not be easy to obtain because anything “we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” Freedom is necessary; we must fight for our colonies because the king believes that he is allowed “ ‘to bind us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER’ “ and that “power can belong only to God.” In trying to obtain freedom, we must not question our decisions; we must just go with it. We have “avoided the calamities of war” for too long. In this war, we must create panic. Panic is both good and bad. It is bad because the “duration is short”, and it is good because it “bring things and men to light.” Paine then goes on to try and reassure people that we have done this before, and that even though we have a small army, we can conquer Britain’s’ large army. It is the time now, and we all must unite because words cannot fix this trouble we have on our hands. Parents should want to fight because “let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” The time is now; “American will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion. He is calling everyone to help, and says that God will repay you for your help. Paine informs them that his army is recruiting, and lots of men are signing up. He is almost advertising that “everyone is doing it” to get more people to sign up to fight.
In this pamphlet, Paine conceives and defines equality and democracy as being free from Great Britain. He is willing to do whatever it takes even if it includes starting a war. Today, our notions of equality are similar to that of Paine’s notions of equality. It is evident because of the war going on in the Middle East. We are willing to do whatever it takes to keep our equality and independence.
God is ever present in “The Crisis” because Paine states that “God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish.” He makes the readers feel as though God is on their side, and will be until the very end. God will not lash out against us for starting this war. Also, God will no longer support or help the king. The king has gone too far. It is time now to act!
In the last work, “Letters from an American Farmer,” I had some trouble understanding the writing. I get the gist when de Crevecoeur explains how Englishmen become Americans and how America is just a better place to live overall because of the land and religious freedom. Everything that America embodies is the idea of equality and freedom to him. He goes on to explain that there is not much difference between the rich and the poor because in America there are “no courts, no kings, no bishops.” Also, America is just a good place to live because of the “mild government, all respecting the laws, without dreading their power.” The land here is good; this continent is so big and “who can tell how far it extends?” You can settle along the shore, in the middle settlements, or in the woods, whatever deems fit for you. This is just a place that accepts everyone; people with many different talents come to this country and find work that suits them: Those that have “any particular talent…exerts it in order to procure a livelihood, and it succeeds.” America is not a crowded place, it is open to everyone. To de Crevecoeur equality is simply living in America. You have the right to live wherever you want, work in the field you desire, worship whatever religion you must, and marry out of your religion. de Crevecoeur did mention religion and God. He goes on and on talking about how we may follow whatever religion we wish because religion is “allied to all.” He talks about how religion does not “concern the welfare of the country, or of the province at large.” Our neighbors of different religions “scandalizes nobody…persecutes nobody, and nobody persecutes him.” We are free to worship as we want. Today, the ideas expressed in “Letters from an American Farmer” are what we know America as today.
What I noticed most about this short story is that de Crevecoeur compares humans to plants and animals. For example, it is said in the short story “It is with men as it is with the plants and animals that grow and live in the forests; they are entirely different from those that live in the plains.” Why does the author relate plants, animals, and humans?
I believe that our authors from today’s writings talk about the ideas of equality and freedom that we all know today.