Bill Of Rights Dbq Essay

During the mid 20th century, citizens all over America were fighting for their rights including women and those of color especially. This period marked the beginning of a long road of reconciliation and reconstruction that citizens have finally been able to cross the finish line in establishing equal rights for all of the United States citizens. Over time, American’s former issues regarding the civil liberties of citizens have been slowly resolved such as the rights of equality for citizens of color, the repercussions of citizens voicing their opinions, and acquiring rights for women. Under the 14th amendment, slaves were granted citizenship in the united states and were promised equal treatment under the law but after over a century of
During the Vietnam war, MLK Jr. gives a speech regarding the topic of the mistreatment of citizens in the United States including those that are poor or have darker skin. He make a reference toward how during this time period, citizens do not involve themselves in any acts towards “opposing their government’s policy” due to the fear instilled in them by having to potentially face consequences (Source A). The speaker uses ethos in order to instil the credibility of the government into the audience but later uses pathos in order to allow the crowd to pity those being mistreated in America but do not have a voice to speak up for their rights. Lyndon B. Johnson was sending citizens out to war regardless of whether they wanted to or not causing non-voiced resistance from many people because they feared they could get arrested for opposing the government. Citizens in the now 21st century oppose the government all the time without the fear of consequences. This year with the election of president Donald Trump, there has been many protest and people voicing their opinions on him as a president. These citizens do not fear any consequences by saying what they believe thus showing how the issues behind the civil liberty of speaking out has been resolved. Also, MLK refers to how the United States was “[manipulating]... the poor” in the time period consisting of the Vietnam war (Source A). The government was sending poor men into the war and leaving their families behind to suffer financially and because the poor did not have a voice in society and did not have the courage to speak up their families would be heavily impacted. By MLK pointing out this viewpoint, he is utilizing pathos to convince his audience of the horrid treatment given to the