Journal #30- Civil Rights

Looking back at the history of the United States, civil rights have been a reoccurring argument for various ethnic, religious, political groups.  The first group to fight and win civil rights in this country were lower class white men.  From the beginning of the nation in the late 1700s, a group of rich white men held most of the power.  This stayed true until the 1820s and 1830s when Andrew Jackson became President.  He represented the "Age of White Democracy" and in these years, lower class white men gained the right to vote.  The next major event in the United States civil rights movement was the Civil War.  Even though  African Americans did not gain all their rights following the war, it was a major step towards it.  The Jim Crow Laws of the southern states and discrimination kept many blacks from the voters box and denied them their rights as citizens.  It was not until the twentieth century when women were finally given the right to vote. For decades women had been pushing for this right, and time and time again women proved they were worthy of it.  African Americans did not fully gain there rights until nearly half way through the twentieth century.  The fight and attainment of civil rights in America have been major events that have shaped our nation.  It took nearly two hundred years for everyone living in the United States to gain their civil rights; whites, African Americans, Indians, women, and immigrants.  The United States Constitution, the Supreme Court, and Congress have all played a role in shaping American rights.  The right to vote is just one of the most basic of civil rights.  We are so blessed to live in a country that protects our civil rights.  We need to remember the price that was paid to attain these rights and look forward to a better tomorrow.