Introduction
Americans widely share values such as opportunity, fairness, dignity, and the belief in creating a better society. These people view these values as important in ensuring the country progresses and attain its “American Dream.” In different countries all over the globe, these values are expressed and understood as human rights. According to the United Nations, Human rights are defined as “rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status”. Today, many countries have made significant improvements in how they value their citizens despite their differences. One such nation is the United States which set an example to many countries in promoting and upholding human rights. In America, many significant political, historical, and cultural factors have shaped the perspective of human rights, including the influence of the colonial experience, enlightenment philosophy, and ongoing struggles for social justice and civil rights. To understand the American Perspective of Human Rights, this paper examines seven documents: The US Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, The Maryland Toleration Act 1694, The Mayflower Compact, the Gettysburg Address, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.
The Mayflower Compact
The first fundamental document in American History was the Mayflower Compact. In November 1620, the Mayflower landed in the US with 102 passengers. Since the passengers thought they were not obligated to follow the laws of the people they found in America, they decided to write the Mayflower Compact. The Mayflower represents the earliest attempt of the Americans to establish a form of government that consider people’s popular consent in North America. The document was a social contract that brought the pilgrims together and formed a framework for self-governing and the rule of law. Since the Mayflower contract considered people’s consent, self-governing and the rule of law, it is evident that it valued people as the foundation of any government. Over the years, this has become the main focus of American political thought.
One emphasis that the Mayflower Compact focuses on with regard to the American perspective of human rights is the importance of the individual in the context of the nation. Even though the document did not explicitly mention individual rights, it affirms the people’s rights to take part in the government and to have a say in making the law that governs them. This new leadership mode that the passengers introduced was different from the model of government in Europe, which significantly focused on the divine right and absolute monarchy idea. The new leadership mode recognized that everyone has the power to unite people and establish a form of government that protects their rights and aim at the nation’s common good.
The Maryland Toleration Act 1649
Long before the Americans adopted the first amendment, the Maryland Province Assembly passed an act on the religion known as the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649. The act was an essential historical milestone that ensured the freedom of Christianity for settlers that followed this religion, including Catholics and Protestants. The American Perspective book notes that since the passengers were tired of the strict rules in England’s church, “now came to America in search of religious freedom” (p. 88). According to this law, it was a crime for a person to blaspheme God, the early apostles and evangelists, the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity. It was settled under a charter that George Calvert sought. Everyone started feeling like they were part of the government
The Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 gives a clear perspective that America has on human rights. It recognized the benefits of religious freedom and tolerance in a country with people from diverse backgrounds. It represents changing from the religious intolerance that existed in Europe for many centuries. Even though the law was not certain about what is referred to as religious freedom, it was a significant step for America in the right direction. It reflected how America indicated a growing commitment to religious freedom and the idea that everyone has the right to worship as they like without fearing persecution. The law paved the way for the US First Amendment, which significantly focused on protecting people’s religious and conscience freedom in America.
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was another important milestone in American history. This document gave a clear perspective that America had on human rights. The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 and declared the thirteen colonies of the US independent of Great Britain. The document, the Declaration of Independence, consisted of three parts: defense of American actions, Jefferson’s list of grievances and Lee’s to declare independence (p. 202). This document declared that every person is equal and endowed with natural rights, including liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness. It also clearly affirms that the government derives all its power from the common people’s consent and that every person has a right to change or abolish it when it does not serve their majority interest.
The Declaration of Independence gives a perspective that human rights are inherent in America, and it is not the role of the government to grant them. It denotes the importance of a nation’s popular sovereignty and the right of revolution in America. This document foreshadowed America’s stance on human rights and became central to American political thought. Additionally, the document inspired other human rights movements all over the globe, including the French Revolution and the struggles for independence in Latin America. Lastly, it played a significant role in fighting against slavery and the civil rights struggles.
The US Constitution
The US Congress had to take a new action in January 1887 after the country experienced many crises from 1783 to 1787. The new action involved amending and revising the Articles of Confederation. These changes and amendments to the Articles of Confederation led to the establishment of the US Constitution (p. 220). The US Constitution represented a landmark in US constitutionalism and formed the basis of its form of government. The ratification of the US constitution also gave birth to a system of checks and balances and how power between the federal government and the states is divided. The other thing it included was a Bill of Rights that aimed to protect people’s rights like freedom of religion, speech and the press.
The US Constitution offers a clear perspective of America on Human Rights. Firstly, it establishes a mode of controlling the government to ensure that it is accountable to its people and it is subject to the law. Secondly, the US Constitution recognizes the benefits of individual rights and liberties and limits the government from infringing them. It also offers a framework for peaceful change and reform, which has allowed the United States to adapt to changing circumstances and respond to new challenges. Even though the US has amended the Constitution many times, it remains a foundation for protecting people’s rights, limiting the power of government and ensuring democratic accountability.
The Bill of Rights
According to the American Perspective book, the Bill of Rights was not part of the US Constitution. However, after the new government came into office in April 1789, members of the House of Representatives started compiling many amendments to be added to the Constitution. Three-fifths majority of the states then approved the amendments. The amendments were the Bill of Rights that constituted the first ten amendments of the Constitution (p. 233). The fundamental human rights included in the Bill of Rights included freedom of religion, speech and the press. It also included protections from unreasonable seizures and searches, self-incrimination, and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Bill of Rights is beneficial when it comes to human rights. Firstly, this document preserves the principles of individual liberty that the Declaration of Independence established. This document reflects the US commitment to protecting and upholding the rights and freedoms of those governed. Secondly, the Bill of Rights limits the power of the government. It has helped all citizens from being infringed on by the government. It has also been used to advance civil rights and social justice causes. The document continues to be an essential document in US history and shapes the nation’s legal and political landscape.
The Emancipation Proclamation
In the early stages of the American Civil war, the US army suffered significant losses under the Confederate Army’s control. This American army’s failure on the battlefield led to President Abraham Lincoln’s political difficulties and needed more support from international communities. For instance, according to the American Perspective book, France went ahead to support the Confederacy (P. 602). As a result, in 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This document declared, “all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free….” Additionally, “the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons” (p. 603). This document marked the beginning of the US fight against slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation gave a clear perspective of the US on human rights. Firstly, fighting against slavery was a milestone in the struggle to attain equality and Justice. Secondly, the document recognized that all people have inherent dignity and are worthy of the government’s protection despite their differences in ethnicity or race. Thirdly, the Emancipation Proclamation represented the nation’s stand and turning point in the Civil War. Generally, it gave way to the passage of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the US.
The Gettysburg Address
The US President Abraham Lincoln offered a speech on the afternoon of 19 November 1863 called the Gettysburg Address. President Lincoln offered the Gettysburg Address when dedicating the US soldiers’ National Cemetery. This speech is the most famous address in US history, as it reflects the nation’s commitment to the principles of democracy, liberty and equality. It clearly demonstrates the American Government’s fundamental principles. It recognizes those soldiers and regular citizens that died during the Civil War for their sacrifice for the nation.
The Gettysburg Address gives the American perspective on Human rights. Firstly, the address was like a call of action to all Americans to unite and work towards a common goal. President Lincoln notes in the Gettysburg Address that those people “living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract” (p. 605). Secondly, the address reminded all citizens in America of the benefits of people’s liberty and the rule of law. It also emphasizes the need for the government to protect these principles for the generations that will come in the future. Lastly, the address represented the nation’s commitment to the principle of justice and equality. This representation later became a central factor in the history of American political thoughts.
The Values of the Documents in the Past and Now
All these documents clearly indicate the evolving perspective of Human rights in the US. It also reflects the nation’s ongoing struggle to continue with its founding ideas. For instance, the Mayflower Compact in November 1620 emphasized the need for a democratic government. It represented one of the earliest attempts to establish a democratic government in the New World. On the other hand, the Declaration of Independence endorsed individual rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation focused on ending slavery in the country, among many others. They reflect the nation’s commitment to promoting and protecting everyone’s dignity and social justice. They clearly show that the US government protects and upholds human rights. A better example is the abolition of slavery, which was inhumane to minor races.
All these seven documents mattered then when they were introduced and now in the US. This is because, like in the past, these documents have contributed to continuously shaping the nation’s legal and political landscape. America has used these documents to advance its civil rights and social justice causes. They have also inspired individuals all over the globe to make necessary efforts in fighting for Human Rights, freedom and democracy. Lastly, today, these documents remind Americans that the human rights struggle is an ongoing issue, and people have to unite to build a just and equitable society.
Conclusion
Over the years, many events and documents have significantly shaped the American perspective over the years. When passengers arrived in the US from England, the people emphasized the need for majority consent when establishing a form of government that considers people’s needs. A few years after this, the Maryland Act of 1694 was passed to offer people the right to choose their religion without government interference. The other document, the Declaration of Independence, declared that every person is equal in the US and that they are all endowed with inherent Human rights, including liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. The US Constitution was passed years after the Declaration of Independence and focused on limiting the government from infringing on people’s rights. The US Congress then shortly introduced the Bill of rights in the Constitution, which offered many rights and freedoms that everyone should enjoy. The same themes are available in the other documents, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. All of them mattered then and now as they are committed to protecting every person’s rights and ensuring the government does not infringe on them.
Works Cited
College, HCC C. American Perspectives: Readings in American History Vol. 1. (7th Edition). McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2008.
United Nations. Human Rights. Web.