The Promises of the Declaration
| “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
–The Declaration of Independence |
In the 1950s, many of the southern states of America were segregated. Because of the laws known as “Jim Crow Laws,” blacks and whites had different restaurants, restrooms, public transportation, and even drinking fountains. The Declaration of Independence clearly said “all men are created equal,” so the Jim Crow Laws said that all segregated places were “separate but equal.”
Think about it:
- Do you think that Jim Crow Laws agree with the Declaration of Independence? Do you think that it’s possible for things to be “separate but equal”?
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Important Words List
The history of Dr. King has a lot of words that might be new to you. If you read them in context, these new words make more sense. In your reading, look for these words in bold. Find clues in the rest of the sentence to make a logical guess about the meaning of these new words. Then, look them up in the dictionary to find the real definitions.
boycott
segregation
unjust
protest
nonviolent
register (to vote)
strike
union
civil rights
democracy
justice
love
hope
