Who Was an 'American'?

“…All men are created equal;…they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence is, to me, the founding document of America. It is what made America what it is and made Americans who they are. But it is also a controversial document, in that who were considered ‘men’ is unclear. Today, ‘men’ encompasses just about everyone, …

…and sexist feelings. One day, as slavery and male dominance faded away, racial and sexist feelings will too fade away, and we will be ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ “I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration of Independence, the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age” (1898).