In the Pursuit of Equality

Though equality has been something America has bragged about for a long time, it hasn't actually been around for long.  Woman suffrage was granted in 1920, and African Americans couldn't vote till 1965.  Even though the Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal", it intentionally leaves out slaves, minorities, and women.  Historical evidence shows that equality wasn't always one of America's strengths.  

If the Declaration of Independence is supposed to represent the whole country, why does it only account for white males?  In fact, the declaration totally contradicts itself, claiming "liberty and justice for all".  Even the founding fathers themselves had owned slaves. Still, Thomas Jefferson was prepared to criticize slavery, condemning King George to allow slave trading. Unfortunately, his criticism was deleted under a vote by the continental congress.  What did the writers have in mind when writing this document?  The declaration states that it is the government's job to protect individual rights, and upon becoming corrupt, "it is the right of the people to alter or abolish" their government. At the time, this idea was totally new.  Replacing a monarchy with a Republican government was a revolutionary change.

While "the people" today are more widely thought of, the principles of the Declaration of Independence started the American values.  Today, after countless disputes and riots, I can enjoy seeing the different cultures as I walk around my community.  Nowadays, companies will employ without bias towards races or genders, diversity is present, and everyone can decide on who the next best president will be.  While the Declaration of Independence didn't initially start equality, it laid the foundations for it.