...The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was written in 1923 by Alice Paul. The purpose of the ERA was to ensure the equal application of the Constitution to all United States citizens, regardless of their sex. This is stated succinctly in the first section of the amendment: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”1 The ERA was proposed in every Congress between 1923 and 1972.2 In 1972, it was finally passed and sent to individual states for ratification. At the end of the ERA’s proposing clause in 1982, it had been ratified by 35 states, making it fall just short of the 38 required to put it into the constitution.3 As the political tide turned more conservative...
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...In 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was drafted by Alice Paul, who believed that the amendment was the appropriate follow-up to the 19th Amendment in guaranteeing equal rights for all. The ERA was aimed at the large number of state laws that restricted women’s jury service, controlling property, and guardianship rights over their children, among others. However, the ERA did not get passed in the United States Congress until 1972, forty-nine years later. It was quickly sent to the states for ratification. Initially, the amendment was met with great support and was approved by 30 out of the needed 38 state legislators within the first year. Because Congress put a seven-year deadline on the ratification process, the ERA needed to be approved three-fourths of the states by March 22, 1979. The amendment seemed promising as federal politicians and a majority of the public showed support (Stidolph). In Oklahoma, the ERA received following from many organizations such as the American Bar Association, Church Women United, and the American Association of University Women. The amendment passed in the Oklahoma Senate with a voice vote. However, there was growing controversy...
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...In the words of Bernadette Cahill, the Equal Rights Amendment was an attempt “to finish the unfinished business of the Civil War” (Cahill, Bernadette). The main purpose for the ERA was to create equality for women under the law. The last time that anything like this was attempted was in 1870. Women’s Rights leaders of the time launched a campaign to reword the Fifteenth Amendment to include the word “sex.” The amendment in the constitution states, “race, color or previous condition of servitude.” This shows that since the original interpretation only applied to men, women themselves did not have the civil right to vote. At that point in time, they were purposefully not heard. In addition to this, they tried to implement a Sixteenth Amendment that dealt with women specifically, to no avail (Cahill, Bernadette). So from 1921 to 1923, Alice Paul drafted what is now known as the Equal Rights Amendment. Paul and the NWP, National Women’s Party, wanted to use this amendment in order to finally bring equality to all women (Cahill, Bernadette). The NWP had recently been fighting battles one...
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...Though the nineteenth amendment may be few in words, there is a story behind it that couldn’t be told with a million. The struggle to gain this amendment was lengthy and difficult, but the final product : “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex,” and, “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation (US Congress).” This short statement immediately inspired those who supported it and continues to act as fuel for the fire of feminists today. Many events led up to the ratification of the nineteenth amendment. In July of 1848, the woman suffrage movement got a great start in the Seneca Falls convention headed by Elizabeth...
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...find the subject. In Ray Bradbury’s book, Fahrenheit 451, it shows how their society is messed up because of censorship. Censorship is the system or practice of censoring books, movies, etc. Censorship violates the first amendment, keeps people from being themselves, and sugarcoats the truth. Censorship violates the first amendment. Barbara Miner, author of “When Good Books Can Get Schools in Trouble” remarks,”The bill of rights protects not only freedom of speech but the right to petition the government.” It is okay for people to debate for freedom. They should have the right to do what they feel. The author of the article goes on to say the parents have the right to decide what their children can be exposed to....
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...The 26th Amendment 26th Amendment The 26th Amendment was proposed on March 23rd, 1971 and ratified on July 1st of the same year. The 26th Amendment would be the quickest to be ratified in United States history. So many people wanted this law to happen and it did. The saying was “Old enough to fight, then old enough to vote.” This new amendment had people across the nation pondering. This amendment was a remarkable new amendment. Young people could now vote and get involve in there new political leaders. Before this new amendment the law was that you couldn’t vote unless you were at least 21 so until that age, teenagers didn’t care about who was running their country at all until they were of that legal age. The 26th Amendment changed the whole idea of the adulthood of eighteen year olds in America’s eyes forever. Student activist during the Vietnam War, were outraged that young men and women could die in a war and fight for their country but weren’t able to vote. They felt like this was unfair and it took away their rights as citizens. Making the 26th Amendment as a law made them feel like they made a difference. "No taxation without representation” was also a big deal because taxes were still getting pulled out of young teenager’s paychecks. How is that fair if they couldn’t even vote on this but still had to get chunks of money taken out of their paychecks? In some states, including Texas, has changes the adult age to seventeen years old, declaring that if you disobey a...
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...26th Amendment The 26th Amendment was proposed on March 23rd, 1971 and ratified on July 1st of the same year. The 26th Amendment would be the quickest to be ratified in United States history. So many people wanted this law to happen and it did. The saying was “Old enough to fight, then old enough to vote.” This new amendment had people across the nation pondering. This amendment was a remarkable new amendment. Young people could now vote and get involve in there new political leaders. Before this new amendment the law was that you couldn’t vote unless you were at least 21 so until that age, teenagers didn’t care about who was running their country at all until they were of that legal age. The 26th Amendment changed the whole idea of the adulthood of eighteen year olds in America’s eyes forever. Student activist during the Vietnam War, were outraged that young men and women could die in a war and fight for their country but weren’t able to vote. They felt like this was unfair and it took away their rights as citizens. Making the 26th Amendment as a law made them feel like they made a difference. "No taxation without representation” was also a big deal because taxes were still getting pulled out of young teenager’s paychecks. How is that fair if they couldn’t even vote on this but still had to get chunks of money taken out of their paychecks? In some states, including Texas, has changes the adult age to seventeen years old, declaring that if you disobey a law than you will...
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... 2011 BCOM/275 Prayer in School Throughout our society, prayer in school has become extinct. Prayer is a form of communication or a way of talking to God or other saints (Richert, N.D.). Although prayer in school may focus on religion, violate the first amendment, and separation of church and state, there are both advantages and disadvantages of prayer in our schools. Being that we are a diverse society and everyone has his or her own personal opinion on prayer in our schools; it still remains one of the most controversial issues today. The decision to take prayer out of public schools has become one of the most controversial issues throughout our society. The argument of whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools is still misunderstood. When determining whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools, it is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages. In our society, 90% of America’s youngsters attend public schools. The children that attend public schools come from homes that espouse a variety of religious and philosophical beliefs (www.au.org). The pros and cons of prayer in public schools are not a cut and dry issue. There are many avenues to this matter. Pros arguments that have been expressed by people that approve of prayer in schools argue to banish prayer takes away the student’s freedom and molds them to be like non-religious students (www.religioninschools.com ). One of the advantages of having a freedom of religious...
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...Economic chaos o States fund the war by borrowing money from federal govt. o Govt. wants the money back o Economy dries up and leads to a “trade war” with competing interest o States taxes their own citizens since they can’t borrow money o People (mostly farmers) lose their possessions and property since they can’t pay taxes o Damages the economy even more since farm family is out of work • No sufficient national defense o Enemy 1 the British o French and the Spanish also potential threats o Native Indian tribes also potential threat • States are left largely on their own (13 separate states, no unity) D) Shay’s Rebellion 4 Key debates 1. Representation of the states (large population vs. small population) o States might be equal but not for individuals o Creates a Bicameral Legislation (2 houses) 1. Senate 2. House of reps (representation based on population) which is known as “the great compromise” o Defensive compromise; better at not getting stuff done than getting stuff done. 2. Slavery (north vs. south) • In the constitution, Slavery is OK • Importation of slaves is allowed for at least 20 years (1808) • Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for state population – representation bonus for the south • Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for state population – for taxes • Return of escaped slaves *South wins on the issue of slavery 3. Chief Executive (single vs. multiple)...
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...to two on January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade. The abortion is a fundamental right to every woman (procon.org, 2013). According to the U.S. News website “Support for the ruling has grown since polls began tracking public opinion on abortion in 1989, with 70 % of Americans now believing the ruling should stand” (Debate club, 2013 Should Abortion be Legal, para 1). Whether people are for it or against it, there are many reasons and justifications for why it should remain legal as well as many other reasons for why it should not be. For example, in the case of a late term abortion, rape, unfit mother who may be using drugs, or life and death risk of the mother or child. Prochoice groups argue that abortion is a right that should not be control by government or religious authority. Pro-life groups give emphasis to personhood and that it begins at conception. Unborn babies are human beings with the right to live, and it is immoral to kill innocent human being. Through the research and study pros and cons of abortion, the legal ramifications, and the effects it may have on women and the unborn child will be discuss to determine if abortion should it remain legal. Life Starts at Conception After the Roe v. Wade case, two main groups emerged, Pro-life to oppose the Court’s decision about abortion and Pro-choice to support the Court’s decision in giving the woman the right to choose to end an unwanted pregnancy. Pro-life supporters believe human life starts at conception. Life “starts...
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...Abortion: Right or Wrong? Kymber McLay Charter College Abstract Start Abstract here Keywords: This paper explores the pros and cons of abortion. Many people believe differently on whether it is right or wrong. [ Abortion ]: Right or Wrong? Abortion has been a huge topic in the United States for years now, and whether it is the right thing to do or not has caused many debates. It was declared a fundamental right by the U.S. Supreme Court during Roe vs. Wade, yet many people beg to differ. The ones who believe it is right identify themselves as pro-choice, believing that abortion is a woman’s right and that it should not be limited by governmental or religious authority. Identifying as pro-life, the opponents believe that it is immoral killing and that personhood begins at conception. No matter what each side thinks, there will always be arguments about it. The choice to abort a fetus is central to a woman’s independence and ability to determine her own future. "A woman's autonomy to determine her life's course, and thus to enjoy equal citizenship stature,” stated by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg during Gonzales vs. Carhart (2007). A woman’s decision can affect her life for the good or the bad, but if abortion was illegal, then a woman cannot make the best decision for herself. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote, "The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability...
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...2006 Abortion Abortion touches politics, but is not consumed by it. Abortion views, pro or con, generally consume the life of the individual holding them. Abortion as an issue of public debate is largely a twentieth-century phenomenon. But the debate began much earlier, not over abortion, but over how social issues would later be viewed. There is even argument over what the term abortion means. Abortion moved from a practice that occurred behind closed doors and only for a select portion of the population to a practice that virtually skyrocketed among the general populace, rich or poor. The pro-life side will contend that the term pro-choice is an altogether unfair designation. What their opponents really are, they will argue, is pro-abortion. On, the other hand, pro- choice proponents will likely argue the term pro-life is unfair, partisan description. Pro- choice advocates will argue that they are pro-life about the mother. Their opponents are “anti-choice” or “anti-reproductive rights.” Pro Life The ultimate pro-life goal is quite direct and very simple. Pro-lifers want an amended U.S. Constitution, to the Canadian Charter of Rights that will give equal protection law, to, to all living humans from the time their biologic life begins at conception. Pro-lifers have a goal and it is a Constitutional Amendment returning the right to make decisions about each individual state in the U.S. and the equivalent in Canada to...
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...States. Andrew Johnson was known to have been a rigid, dictatorial racist who was unable to compromise or even attempt to accept a political reality at odds with his own ideas. Instead of forging a compromise between Radical Republicans and moderates, his actions united the opposition against him. His bullheaded opposition to the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Fourteenth Amendment eliminated all hope of using presidential...
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...these aspects while pondering the question “is affirmative action still needed in today’s society?” In this paper I will be explaining what affirmative action is.The history behind affirmative action like how it all unfolded, who made it, and the history as to why it is in effect now. I will also list some pros and cons of affirmative action, how the United States could better affirmative action for the future and finally a conclusion, which is my opinion on the topic. But what exactly is affirmative action? Born of the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment and education acceptance decisions. Universities with affirmative action policies generally set goals to increase diversity. Affirmative action decisions are generally not supposed to be based on quotas, nor are they supposed to give any preference to unqualified candidates. And by no means is affirmative action supposed to harm anyone through "reverse discrimination." The purpose was to create equal opportunity for the people who had been unjustly treated in the past. It was set out to correct this wrong, and make it right. But at the same time too often is Affirmative action is looked upon...
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...Pros and Cons of Death Penalty Does the execution of a murderer serve justice for all? One of the most controversial topics in the world today not only deals with the death penalty, also known as capital punishment, but whether it should be abolished or not . While some believe that the death penalty is “cruel and unusual punishment” violating the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution, others argue that “an eye for an eye” does justice. Thirty-four different states support this type of punishment including Oklahoma, leaving fifteen states that do not. According to Newport and the Gallup Polls, as of May 2007, “sixty-six percent of Americans -- almost the same percentage that supports the death penalty” consider the death penalty “morally acceptable.” Only twenty-seven percent of people believe the death penalty is morally wrong. Some say that the “legality in the United States is critically undermining American moral stature around the world (Ballaro & Cushman)." The death penalty is a very emotional, complex, and rather complicated matter that includes, but not limited to, the argument of the pros and cons as well as the fact that some convicted people whether executed or not are then later freed from guilt and blame (exonerated). There are many different pros of the death penalty, but I have chosen to only discuss a few of the most controversial topics. Supporters of death penalty believe that “[j]ustice is only achieved when a crime is met with the proper punishment...
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