The establishment of a republic that eventually was named the United States of America proposed a foundation with expectations by a national government. The founding fathers created the Declaration of Independence in 1776 with a clear view of how they anticipated the country to function in the future. Not only was the Declaration of Independence created, but in 1787 the Constitution was signed declaring the fundamental laws of the national government as well as the basic rights for citizens of the country. Nonetheless, these formal statements regarding the colonies’ intentions would not eventuate later on in the future. In its place, America would encounter a time period facing injustices and racial inequality. The 1800s was a time when African Americans were deprived of …show more content…
The racial inequality faced by the people in America plays a role in expressing how America’s history did not reflect the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. According to “The Great Nation of Futurity,” written by John O’Sullivan, the United States intended on establishing a union that was built on the foundation of freedom that granted individuals civil liberties (Doc. F). In the passage, O’Sullivan states, “We are the nation of progress, of individual freedom, of universal enfranchisement” (Doc. F). This quote further supports the idea of how the United States intended on demonstrating liberty throughout the nation and allowing freedom to those living in the country. In this case, by using the words “freedom” and “enfranchisement,” O’Sullivan perceives the country as one that grants people rights and allows for certain privileges, specifically the right to vote. In a similar manner, the Preamble of the Constitution dated 1787, discusses the idea of establishing a union that revolves around the basic rights of an