Why Did We Fight To End The Civil Rights Movement?
During the Civil Rights Movement, the United States was not how it is today. Blacks and whites did not get along. The blacks were enslaved up until the end of the Civil War, struggling and fighting for freedom. The Civil War did officially abolished slavery, but on the other hand it did not end discrimination against the blacks, they continued to endure the devastating effects of racism, especially in the South. On January 1, 1863 Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that all slaves were free. Although it did not free all the slaves, it did end the Civil War. On August 28, 1963, one hundred years later Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech. He wanted blacks to be free. He wanted to end racism
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and make the United States a better place. Although one was a document and one was a speech, they both had similar ideas. In 1861 when the American Civil War began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the conflict as concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. By mid 1862, thousands of slaves fled to join the invading Northern armies, Lincoln was convinced that abolition had become a strong military strategy, along with the morally correct path. On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Lincoln starts off the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states should be in rebellion against the United States. Then, thenceforward, and forever free. He says that the government will make sure to recognize and preserve the freedom. They will not do anything to repress, he gets his point across by saying “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom”.
He continues on saying that if anybody was to be in rebellion against the United States they will then, “and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States”. He says that as the president he will make sure that this all happens. He then continues on to mention several people who are in rebellion against the United States. He says that every single one of those people holding slaves, now must free them. And now that they are free all citizens along with the military and naval authorities must recognize and keep their freedom safe. He then invites everyone to enjoin upon the people so that they can declare to be free to abstain from all violence. Unless on the other hand it is necessary because self-defense is needed. He also supports the fact that when they are allowed to work, they should receive reasonable wages. Lincoln then makes it clear and known that people in reasonable conditions will be in the armed services of the United States “to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service”. He says upon this act it is believed to be an act of justice, he gives credits to the considerate judgement of mankind and the huge favor of God. He then sets his hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave, it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wanted to make the United States a better, safer, and happier place. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, it was said that “King called for an end to racism and inequality in the United States“. He gave his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. There were over 250,000 people listening to his speech. This event became the most popular moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Since then King has been known as one of the greatest American orators along with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr starts his speech, the first thing he says is how happy and how he feels to be there, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation”. He talks about the Emancipation Proclamation calling it, “ a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity”. When he says “their” he is referring to those were enslaved years ago. He continues to say that we are one hundred years past that and still dealing with the issues of African Americans being enslaved. Their lives are still are still consumed by the “ manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”. They are still not free. He discusses the poverty that they dealt with saying, “ the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity”. King really drills in how hard life was for African Americans at the time. He says they felt like they did not even belong on their own land. Due to all that was occuring, it lead to the reasoning behind his speech he was giving. In the next part of his speech he talks about when the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was written. He says they were writing a promissory note to every American, saying that all men were guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This included both black and white men. Following that he goes on to say, for all their lofty ideals, in reality the founding fathers have written a 'bad check' of sorts to African-Americans. He claims that America defaulted on that check where black citizens are concerned by denying them those rights. He then developed a more hopeful tone of voice by saying that the “bank of justice” is not bankrupt. He repeats that we all refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds considering all of the great opportunities in the nation. He says we need to cash a check, a check that will better us, “ So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice”. He also states that there is urgency in the cause, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism”. Saying that now is the most important time to make the real promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise and finally put an end to segregation, to lift our nation and make it a better place for God’s children. Next he goes on saying that it would be fatal if our nation were to ignore all of the urgency of this moment. He uses the different seasons as a metaphor to describe this urgency by saying that the legitimate discontent of African Americans is a “sweltering summer,” and that freedom and equality will be an “invigorating autumn.” He promises that this protest is not going away, it is not about voicing grievances. Again he then states, “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges”. He then warns his people to not commit any wrongful deeds.
He says, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This is a crucially important statement, as King’s leadership was defined by civil disobedience, not violence. He proved that real legal change could be made without resorting to violence. Though there was much violence during the Civil Rights movement, through it all he was always for peace. He always urged others to protest peacefully, what he refers to in his speech as “the high plane of dignity and discipline.” He also goes on about the importance of recognizing white people who want to protest for this same cause, allies like that are necessary to its success by saying, “ The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone”. He then states some specific goals, saying we can not turn back. He says they can’t stop marching so long as they suffer “police brutality”, as long as they’re turned away from hotels, as long as they’re confined to ghettos, as long as they’re subjected to segregation, and lastly as long as they do not have the right to vote. He then states the many struggles that marchers have been dealing with. Some have just come out of jail, while others who left their homes are surrounded by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. He asks them to continue what they are doing, having faith and hope that their situation will change. He tells them to go back home, knowing that somehow this situation can and will change. Followed by saying that they can not sulk in depression, because a better tomorrow is
coming. The next part of his speech is known as the most important part, “I have a dream”. King says his dream is “deeply rooted in the American dream.” This statement reinforces the protesters’ rights to equality in America.He quotes the Declaration of Independence saying, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”. A majority of the end of the speech begins with the words “I have a dream”. He says he dreams that “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” This emphasizes the need for black and white Americans to work better together. He says he wants Mississippi, a big state of injustice sweltered with the heat of oppression to be changed into an oasis of freedom and oasis. He wants his four children to be able to live in a nation where they will not be judged for the color of their skin. He wants all little boys and girls everywhere to get along and be friends. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. closes his speech with another iconic line: “When all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’. He is very passionate about his dream. He wanted to make America better, and for everyone to get along. Thanks to him, today in 2018 we do. Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. both had similar ideas. Although their ideas were expressed in different time periods they still had similar meanings. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t work out as hoped for, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech helped the world really see what it was like for black lives. It changed the world forever. From those two articles we get an insight to how our country was back then. We learn so much from so little if we really take the time to look at it. If it wasn't for them, we could still be living like that today. Thanks to many significant people our country has had, we are now all living a free life.
and make the United States a better place. Although one was a document and one was a speech, they both had similar ideas. In 1861 when the American Civil War began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the conflict as concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. By mid 1862, thousands of slaves fled to join the invading Northern armies, Lincoln was convinced that abolition had become a strong military strategy, along with the morally correct path. On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Lincoln starts off the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states should be in rebellion against the United States. Then, thenceforward, and forever free. He says that the government will make sure to recognize and preserve the freedom. They will not do anything to repress, he gets his point across by saying “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom”.
He continues on saying that if anybody was to be in rebellion against the United States they will then, “and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States”. He says that as the president he will make sure that this all happens. He then continues on to mention several people who are in rebellion against the United States. He says that every single one of those people holding slaves, now must free them. And now that they are free all citizens along with the military and naval authorities must recognize and keep their freedom safe. He then invites everyone to enjoin upon the people so that they can declare to be free to abstain from all violence. Unless on the other hand it is necessary because self-defense is needed. He also supports the fact that when they are allowed to work, they should receive reasonable wages. Lincoln then makes it clear and known that people in reasonable conditions will be in the armed services of the United States “to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service”. He says upon this act it is believed to be an act of justice, he gives credits to the considerate judgement of mankind and the huge favor of God. He then sets his hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave, it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wanted to make the United States a better, safer, and happier place. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, it was said that “King called for an end to racism and inequality in the United States“. He gave his speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. There were over 250,000 people listening to his speech. This event became the most popular moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Since then King has been known as one of the greatest American orators along with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr starts his speech, the first thing he says is how happy and how he feels to be there, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation”. He talks about the Emancipation Proclamation calling it, “ a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity”. When he says “their” he is referring to those were enslaved years ago. He continues to say that we are one hundred years past that and still dealing with the issues of African Americans being enslaved. Their lives are still are still consumed by the “ manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”. They are still not free. He discusses the poverty that they dealt with saying, “ the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity”. King really drills in how hard life was for African Americans at the time. He says they felt like they did not even belong on their own land. Due to all that was occuring, it lead to the reasoning behind his speech he was giving. In the next part of his speech he talks about when the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was written. He says they were writing a promissory note to every American, saying that all men were guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This included both black and white men. Following that he goes on to say, for all their lofty ideals, in reality the founding fathers have written a 'bad check' of sorts to African-Americans. He claims that America defaulted on that check where black citizens are concerned by denying them those rights. He then developed a more hopeful tone of voice by saying that the “bank of justice” is not bankrupt. He repeats that we all refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds considering all of the great opportunities in the nation. He says we need to cash a check, a check that will better us, “ So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice”. He also states that there is urgency in the cause, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism”. Saying that now is the most important time to make the real promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise and finally put an end to segregation, to lift our nation and make it a better place for God’s children. Next he goes on saying that it would be fatal if our nation were to ignore all of the urgency of this moment. He uses the different seasons as a metaphor to describe this urgency by saying that the legitimate discontent of African Americans is a “sweltering summer,” and that freedom and equality will be an “invigorating autumn.” He promises that this protest is not going away, it is not about voicing grievances. Again he then states, “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges”. He then warns his people to not commit any wrongful deeds.
He says, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This is a crucially important statement, as King’s leadership was defined by civil disobedience, not violence. He proved that real legal change could be made without resorting to violence. Though there was much violence during the Civil Rights movement, through it all he was always for peace. He always urged others to protest peacefully, what he refers to in his speech as “the high plane of dignity and discipline.” He also goes on about the importance of recognizing white people who want to protest for this same cause, allies like that are necessary to its success by saying, “ The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone”. He then states some specific goals, saying we can not turn back. He says they can’t stop marching so long as they suffer “police brutality”, as long as they’re turned away from hotels, as long as they’re confined to ghettos, as long as they’re subjected to segregation, and lastly as long as they do not have the right to vote. He then states the many struggles that marchers have been dealing with. Some have just come out of jail, while others who left their homes are surrounded by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. He asks them to continue what they are doing, having faith and hope that their situation will change. He tells them to go back home, knowing that somehow this situation can and will change. Followed by saying that they can not sulk in depression, because a better tomorrow is
coming. The next part of his speech is known as the most important part, “I have a dream”. King says his dream is “deeply rooted in the American dream.” This statement reinforces the protesters’ rights to equality in America.He quotes the Declaration of Independence saying, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”. A majority of the end of the speech begins with the words “I have a dream”. He says he dreams that “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” This emphasizes the need for black and white Americans to work better together. He says he wants Mississippi, a big state of injustice sweltered with the heat of oppression to be changed into an oasis of freedom and oasis. He wants his four children to be able to live in a nation where they will not be judged for the color of their skin. He wants all little boys and girls everywhere to get along and be friends. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. closes his speech with another iconic line: “When all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’. He is very passionate about his dream. He wanted to make America better, and for everyone to get along. Thanks to him, today in 2018 we do. Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. both had similar ideas. Although their ideas were expressed in different time periods they still had similar meanings. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t work out as hoped for, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech helped the world really see what it was like for black lives. It changed the world forever. From those two articles we get an insight to how our country was back then. We learn so much from so little if we really take the time to look at it. If it wasn't for them, we could still be living like that today. Thanks to many significant people our country has had, we are now all living a free life.