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Give Me Liberty

In: Historical Events

Submitted By shamirbear
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Give Me Liberty! Give Us Suffrage! “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” This famous quote used by Patrick Henry during his Virginia Convention speech was the declaration of the many persons who faced injustice and inequality in America. The United States of America was said to be the land of opportunity and prosperity, but opportunity and prosperity for whom? Terms and conditions were not stipulated upon living in or relocating to America that liberty would only be available to those that qualified. Prior to the 1900’s most of America’s population did not enjoy the full blessings of American Liberty. There were many factors during the 19th century that contributed to being afforded and denied American Liberty. While it was easier for white men with wealth and property to exercise full liberty, the color of ones skin, race, or sex was a hindrance to others wanting to enjoy the benefits of full liberty.
During the 19th century, the United States was a “white man’s government.” Whites mainly associated liberty with ownership of property. Therefore, if one owned property, they were entitled to enjoy the benefits of liberty. However, the only persons that owned property prior to reconstruction were white wealthy men. White men in America during reconstruction wanted to keep the “privilege” of liberty to themselves. White men during reconstruction also wanted to keep the right to vote to themselves. According to J. Morgan Kousser “A man with a ballot in his hand is the master of the situation. He defines all his other rights. What is not already given him, he takes…The ballot is opportunity, education, fair play, right to office and elbow-room.” This freedom was one that the white men during the 19th century relished. The opportunity to vote showed status, status which, white American men did not want to share with those inferior to them.
African Americans

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