While these principles were common ideas, they were not always carried out. Many people saw social and economic entitlements as a form of much-hated socialism. Americans enjoyed demonstrating the freedom within their boundaries, but in reality, everyone faced overwhelming restrictions. In 1950, the McCarran Internal Security Act was passed, barring totalitarians (citizens of the Soviet Union) from entering the United States. Truman’s civil rights program was never approved by Congress. Senator McCarthy began a rampant crusade against “communists”, most of whom were simply people with ideas considered radical by conservatives. HUAC, the American Legion, National Association of Manufacturers, and Daughters of the American Revolution persecuted individuals for their beliefs. The McCarran Internal Security Bill required people with unpopular beliefs to register with the government, allowed for the denial of passports, and authorized incarceration or deportation on presidential order.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Former President Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms and rampant anticommunism were two things that inspired the concept of universal human rights after World War II. In 1948, a committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt introduced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the United Nations General Assembly. It included rights almost synonymous with FDR’s Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, protection against arbitrary government, and social and economic entitlements. There was no driving force to enforce these principles, but they soon became widely held concepts of freedom.
While these principles were common ideas, they were not always carried out. Many people saw social and economic entitlements as a form of much-hated socialism. Americans enjoyed demonstrating the freedom within their boundaries, but in reality, everyone faced overwhelming restrictions. In 1950, the McCarran Internal Security Act was passed, barring totalitarians (citizens of the Soviet Union) from entering the United States. Truman’s civil rights program was never approved by Congress. Senator McCarthy began a rampant crusade against “communists”, most of whom were simply people with ideas considered radical by conservatives. HUAC, the American Legion, National Association of Manufacturers, and Daughters of the American Revolution persecuted individuals for their beliefs. The McCarran Internal Security Bill required people with unpopular beliefs to register with the government, allowed for the denial of passports, and authorized incarceration or deportation on presidential order.
While these principles were common ideas, they were not always carried out. Many people saw social and economic entitlements as a form of much-hated socialism. Americans enjoyed demonstrating the freedom within their boundaries, but in reality, everyone faced overwhelming restrictions. In 1950, the McCarran Internal Security Act was passed, barring totalitarians (citizens of the Soviet Union) from entering the United States. Truman’s civil rights program was never approved by Congress. Senator McCarthy began a rampant crusade against “communists”, most of whom were simply people with ideas considered radical by conservatives. HUAC, the American Legion, National Association of Manufacturers, and Daughters of the American Revolution persecuted individuals for their beliefs. The McCarran Internal Security Bill required people with unpopular beliefs to register with the government, allowed for the denial of passports, and authorized incarceration or deportation on presidential order.
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Good post. Could use more solid facts or quotes from the reading to support your reaction, however I do like how you used a very specific example to make your point clear.
ReplyDeleteI liked your reference to FDR's 4 Freedoms. Great comments on the different policies implemented but were unpopular.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sharon. I didn't even think about FDR's 4 Freedoms until I read your entry. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteI like your emphasis on the fact that nobody was actually enforcing these principles, they were just widespread acknowledge concepts. Also, as mentioned in previous comments, great use of the four freedoms!
ReplyDeleteLiz
ReplyDeleteI liked the facts you used. However, I must agree with Tiffany, it would be nice if there were some concrete facts. Use the reading for those facts. Well written blog.
I enjoyed your reaction. But you took it at an angle I haven't seen before. It was unique, which was good, but you might want to back it up with more facts as to how the Declaration was unsuccessful. Nice.
ReplyDeleteGood round up, though some detail would've made it stronger. For example, you note that the civil rights platform was rejected--it would be important to mention how ludicrous it would've been for a nation with a rigid system of segregation to pretend to accept the declaration.
ReplyDelete