Slavery
The abolition of slavery started taking rise when Enlightenment thinkers in the 18th century became critical of the act by saying it as against natural rights. A voice that started reformation in the United States. Religion also thought the same. Quakers and Protestants said it was a "crime in the sight of God". What made this voice louder was that people started realizing that slavery was not essential to their economy. In the world of emerging technology and capitalism, slavery seemed out of date to Europeans. The end of the Atlantic slavery marked a big turn in history and moral thinking of mankind.
Nationalism
In the 20th century, the idea of populations being separated into nations wit their own culture and identity was natural. States didn't give this satisfaction as nations did. In North and South America independence movements took place that gave their name. Nationalism provided many unifications of people that use to feel left out in states. It encouraged people to break away also and gain their own independence.
Feminism
The idea of women being subordinate to men started to be fought against for equality. This was a normal thing throughout history until this new beginning in thinking and equality gave rise. Women began to participate in events and education. Seneca Falls Conference was the first to see these new ideas of women's rights. In 1914, 100,000 women took part in the French feminist organization. 2 million were apart of National American Woman Suffrage Association. Slowly women started gaining little parts here and here that they could participate in. These actions, though, surely did help the foundation of many of today's protest for equal rights. It will only get stronger.
While reading through the documents, Document 16.3 (816) caught my attention. The speech by Frederick Douglass "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
When he says, "The conscience of the nation must be roused:... the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced." We still see this today. Actions the nation takes is hypocritical to our laws be support. He examines what 4th of July is to a slave. He says that it is the reminder more stronger than any other day that there is great injustice and cruelty in which is inflicted upon him. To the slave, Americans celebrate in joy, but to him its a sham. Hoe could people celebrate something that's also unjust and unfair, not provided to everyone.
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