With great power comes great responsibility, and the American constitution reflects that concept. Prior to that, the Declaration of Independence marked the beginning of a new identity for the American people. The birth of this new nation meant the construction of new values and ideals by “we the people,” a population of revolutionaries, risk takers, and civilized rebels. However, underneath the supposed progressive nature of these founding documents lies a hidden truth that exclusively upper middle class white men held the power of representation and legislation in government. Yet, white men alone did not control the history of America. Women and African Americans insisted on seeing themselves in “we the people” and dared to take risks and rebelled to ensure America lived up to its identity.

        There comes a time in the course of history when individuals find it necessary to challenge the constructed ideals of society. These individuals carry the need to stand up for what they believe in even if it means formulating a whole new perspective different from the masses. The actions of these citizens enable a revolution of ideas that change the course of history. One of these revolutionaries included Judith Sargent Murray, who redefined motherhood in American society: “...It may be necessary to prove the capability of the female mind, to rear to perfection whatever seeds may be adventitiously implanted therein...the oppressed females earnestly solicited the aid of those advocates who were appointed to plead the cause of the injured and defenceless” (Murray 4,6). Murray argued for the concept of republican motherhood, the idea that called for an equal opportunity of education for women that enabled them to raise the next generation of patriotic citizens. The movement for women’s rights did not limit itself to upper class white women. African American women also fought alongside them to establish their presence in American society. Sojourner Truth sought equity for all women, even the colored ones: “I know that it feels a kind o’ hissin’ and ticklin’ like to see a colored woman get up and tell you about things, and Woman’s rights. We have all been thrown down so low that nobody thought we’d ever get up again; but we have been long enough trodden now; we will come up again, and know I am here” (Truth 3). Sojourner Truth initiated a fight for the rights of African American women, a fight that marked their identity as revolutionaries that rejected ignorance. The beginning of the struggle for equality meant taking risks to accomplish one’s goals.

        Perhaps the most difficult part about initiating a struggle for equality included taking risks in not knowing the outcome of one’s own actions. Susan B. Anthony perfectly represents the qualities of a risk taker in her fight for women’s rights: “It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen’s right, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny” (Anthony 1). Despite putting her trust in the American constitution, that alone did not prevent the degradation of women’s rights towards suffrage and representation in a government they helped construct. In this struggle for representation, African Americans also had to endure a long process before finally obtaining freedom. Prince Hall, a former slave in Massachusetts took the risk of imprisonment or even death when he decided to petition for the abolition of slavery: “That your Petitioners apprehend that they have, in common with all other Men, a natural & unalienable right to that freedom, which the great Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally on all Mankind, & which they have never forfeited by any compact or agreement whatever...& in Violation of the Laws of Nature & of Nation & in defiance of all the tender feelings of humanity…” (Hall 1). Hall insisted on including himself and other African Americans in the Declaration of Independence which defines freedom as a natural and unalienable right. This act started a wave of rebellion amongst those who believed in

the nature of the Declaration of Independence. Women also identified themselves with this belief of freedom and equality as stated in the Declaration of Sentiments: “In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf” (Stanton 3). This document showed an act of defiance towards the beliefs constructed by men that portrayed women as incapable beings. Apart from stating the beliefs of women, it posed a threat towards men who chose to ignore the situation. Although actions speak for themselves, individuals chose words as a means towards a more passive, intellectual approach.

        The beginning of an identity as civilized rebels dates back to the Declaration of Independence. This notion that rebellion did not necessarily have to include violence gave individuals a sense of validity and rationality when explaining the terms for their disagreement. Thomas Jefferson began this ideal when stating: “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury…” (Jefferson 3). Jefferson emphasizes the fact that this need for a revolution came from misrepresentation and ignorance of the issue at hand, Americans had no other choice but to rebel. The decision to declare independence came from a rational stance rather than something emotional that could wear off at any given time. For this reason, women took a similar approach in their struggle for equality, only through the use of similar arguments would they gain their rights: “The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her” (Stanton 2). Through repeated injury, men forced women to take a stand and declare their independence from men, establishing their individuality in society. Similarly, Booker T. Washington urged African Americans to take a passive aggressive approach in their fight for equal rights. As Washington insisted: “The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremest folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing.. It is important and right that all privileges of the law be ours, but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the exercise of these privileges” (Washington 3). In other words, Washington suggested that equality fails when forced, however, when treated as a constant struggle, it prevails. Education played a major role in ensuring that the rights of African Americans remained established within society. In challenging the structured norms of society, individuals identified as civilized rebels set the stage for the actions of the revolutionaries and risk takers who will change the course of history.

        The American identity characterized itself as revolutionaries who accomplished the impossible through actions that defied certain rules set by society. Women dared to question their position in the household, claiming that all men and women were created equal and the Declaration of Independence reinforces this claim. African Americans challenged their role in American society set upon them by white men, stating that their identity also lies in the founding documents of the United States. Both women and African Americans became revolutionaries, risk takers, and civilized rebels in order to ensure the preservation of a more perfect union that identified itself as progressive. The words once stated by the founding fathers found themselves reiterated later on as a battle cry in the fight for equality amongst women and African Americans. The successes of these battles proved that the American identity will continue to thrive in the souls of individuals once ignored by elitist white men in power.