...for the sake of America. While freedom should have meant for one and all, it is unfortunate, but as well expected in the human condition that the standards and beliefs of the Founding Fathers as to freedom failed to consider independence and its' meaning in reality to women in the country, to black slaves and poor white farmers, and the Native American individual. Yet, the standard of belief held by the Founding Fathers was superior than the standard held in England, at least to some extent.
Consider the statement of Thomas Jefferson (1790):
Every man, and every body of men on earth, possess the right of self-government."
Surely this statement did not intend to leave out the independence of the black slaves, poor white farmers, Native American, or the women in the country at the time. Consider independence and its meaning to the black slave of that time in history. Independence meant that the bad or mediocre home of the master was suddenly no longer home and in fact independence meant no where to go, no education to utilize, no food, lack of sufficient clothing. No family formation on which to rely. Independence to the black slave was introduction to worse horror than the live of a slave.
Consider independence and its true meaning to the poor white individual, many times a farmer or agricultural worker. Independence to the poor white individual meant very little as well. Free to be poor, free to be cold, hungry and shoeless and freedom to die young were the most available options for the poor white individual.
Consider the independence affect upon the life of the Native American. Independence meant they must leave their land, their family, their home and indeed their very way of life. Independence granted as well the freedom to watch the herds of animals die and it meant to be forced to worship God in the way of the white man. The...
This was independence to the American Native.
Independence to women meant very little as well as their lives were regulated and governed by their husband or father and they were allowed very few decisions for themselves much less a real say in their lives or even the lives of their children.
We are led to believe that America is a democracy, however, in a true democracy each individual has the right to have their vote counted on the issue at hand. Independence in the view of the Founding Fathers was independence viewed by their standard, from their own individual perspective and formulated perhaps unknowingly without having considered that which independence might represent to the black slave, the poor white farmer, or the displaced Native American, or indeed to each of their own mothers, wives, daughters and sisters.
References
Hoffert, Robert W. A Politics of Tensions: The Articles of Confederation and American Political Ideas. Niwot: University Press of Colorado, 1992.
Jensen, Merrill. The Articles of Confederation: An Interpretation of the Social-Constitutional History of the American Revolution 1774-1781. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1970.
Jensen, Merrill. The New Nation: A History of the United States during the Confederation, 1781-1789. New York: Knopf, 1950.
Wood, Gordon S. The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1969.
U.S. History - Articles of Confederation Online available at http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-35.htm
American History
