Inequality and Constitution

Liberty, as defined by the Oxford dictionary, is explained as the “condition of being free from restriction or control; the right and power to act, believe or express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing”. Liberty is a word familiar to most Americans, since the fundamentals of the country is based on freedom and independence. Symbolism of liberty (such as the national’s flag, statue of liberty, the liberty bell, Uncle Sam, the bald eagle) can be seen throughout the United States as a reminder of the freedom in which this nation has achieved for over the past two hundred years. Perhaps one of the greatest achievement of liberty by the Americans in the past two hundred years has been the founding of the United States Constitution. Not only does the constitution deal with the distribution of government powers, but it proclaims the freedom of all individuals, abolishing slavery. Although freedom is technically set to the slaves by the constitution, but it did not fully fulfilled the description of “liberty” for the slaves. In this essay, I will begin by demonstrating how the US Constitution not only did not fully provide the freedom of the slaves, but how the document itself is not as “liberating” as it seems. I will also briefly discuss exactly how much “liberty” contemporary America has politically and the level of racial inequality that continues to exist in this “democratic” country.

Before explaining how the US Constitution has contributed to the complexity of slavery, we must first understand the development of the constitution itself. The development of the constitution goes back to when the democratic government was on trial in the early makings America during 1775. The thirteen British colonies then, had challenged the form of government they live under, claiming the conditions in which they lived in has hindered their rights, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. These thirteen colonies disabled themselves from the British Government and joined together to give birth to a union known as “The United States of America”. Although, they were a whole, each state had established their own form of government. Alone, as individual states, their own form of government had proven to be successful, however, as a whole; the union had many internal problems. These problems were enforcing law and order, dealing with taxes, debts, regulating trad...

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...reedom? Although the slaves may be free to live their lives; but in such an economical society where ownership of properties are a vital entity. How can a newly liberated slave with no ownership of anything, uneducated and unrespected gain equality from the rest of society? The slave would then have no choice to work for their former master in exchange for shelter, food, and a low salary. The cycle of slavery and inequality continues, but in a different form. By setting people “free” legally we must understand that it is hard to expect society to do the same on a person to person basis. In response to the contradictions in the United States constitution, the constitution is clearly not as liberating as it seems. It is made up by an undemocratic society with the mentality of providing rights to favored groups. In order to promote true liberation, a new constitution with a more solid foundation of equality, specific rights, one that fits the contemporary society and must be ratified democratically. By forming a new constitution, it is setting an example to modern society that equality can exist. Since it would be ratified democratically, it would reassure its trust with society.