He became the island’s resident commissioner in Washington where he argued for Puerto Rico’s self-government. He asserted that Puerto Ricans were Latin Americans and second class citizenship should not be imposed on them. He wanted for Puerto Rico the right to form a government for the people by the people and of the people. Marti however, defined a people and their homelands in terms of their distinct culture. Bolland notes that Marti believed that every patria has a unique history that is shaped by economic, political and cultural relations as well as has its own aspirations and traditions.
The legal sense of rights states that all other conceptions of rights, such as American views are described as liberty and privileges. The government felt that the Americans rights had distinct power and could be given and taken away by them. The Americans disagreed with the government because they viewed rights as something that was owned indisputably and entitled to them at birth. The British however, believed that they had
Thomas Paine, was an Englishman against British policy, and defended a democratic theory of government. Common Sense shows the advantage of independence, who put forward that Americans should create their own political system. Therefore, Common Sense gave a voice to many colonies who wished to break from the British government, it was useful not only to American, but also Africa and India. Most importantly, Common Sense present the natural rights, such as freedom of press, freedom of religion. As Paine argued that "There is something absurd in supposing a Continent to be perpetually governed by an island".
Legistlative Branch was to make laws, the Executive Branch is to enforce the laws, and the Judicial Brance is to interpret the laws. The Consititution banned states from being completely independent from one another but still be able to have their rights in independence for the people. Though these branches had remanded in the plans, it also followed into the Constitution. This new government would allow for a republic to rule, where the people had the oppurtunity to voice for themselves and to be heard that would respectfully benefit everyone in the country, and not just the majority. Peple had feared the Constitution, as it could potentially threaten their rights and properties.
Checks and Balances The Constitution separates the government into the branches, the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each branch has separate powers but are also given the duty and ability to control and balance others in a system called checks and balances. Each branch is able to limit the other branched to a certain extent in order to protect individual rights. Checks and balances assure that one branch will never have a greater amount of power than another branch. Below are the powers of each branch.
In Harvest of Empire, Juan Gonzalez asserts that Puerto Ricans are citizens yet foreigners. In the United States, Puerto Ricans technically have citizenship to the country, but many are viewed as outsiders or foreigners due to the fact that Puerto Rico is not one of the states. Imperialism is driving force the United States uses in order to take advantage of the benefits that Puerto Rico brings to the table. By exerting it’s power and influence through diplomacy and a military presence, the United States can give the Puerto Rican people the feeling of empowerment and unity as a U.S citizen, but as a culture can disregard them as one of the country’s own because of not being part of the mainland. In the documentary La Operacion, imperialism is in full effect and shows how brutal the U.S government is when “helping” the Puerto Ricans, their citizens, keep jobs and maintain population control.
The evidence that his ideas are implicit in many parts of the document is obvious. For example, the idea of limited government versus individual freedom looms large as an issue that is addressed by John Locke, and it is also a significant part of the declaration as a whole. The Declaration of Independence is an important historical document. It severed ties with Britain during the time of revolution. The declaration is a written claim that the colonists formed an independent state and that they could not be controlled by Britain any longer.
The Legislative Branch consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. Checks and balances create independence amongst the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative branches of the U.S. government. Examples of checks and balances include the Presidential veto of a Congressional bill, the Congressional impeachment of the President, or the Judicial ruling of Congressional laws that violate the U.S. Constitution. Each branch has its own actions and rules of conduct, giving them the freedom to legally operate without limitation from another branch. Each part of the U.S. government is limited in their power as given by the Constitution.
By contrast, the American colonists rebelled mainly against British rule. After the revolution, they established laws that protected individual rights balanced with representative national and state governments. The American Revolution was the first of a series of wars for independence that shared some common beliefs. Shared ideas included an emphasis on individual rights and the idea that a government’s power comes from the
The colonial population was divided by ethnicity, religion, class, and status. The revolution created a new nation and a new collective body. The collective body was the American people whose members were to enjoy their freedom as citizens. The Constitution of the United States start with, “We the People,’ and describes the people who are entitled to the, “the Blessings of Liberty,” as a birthright and pass them on to “Posterity.” But not everyone who lived in the United States was included. The Constitution identifies three people who get this right: Indians, treated as members of independent tribes and not part of the American body politic; “other persons” that is, slaves; and the “people”.