by Lauren Reynolds

Created on: May 24, 2008

Emergencies call for desperate actions. While not many individuals enjoy standing up to defend their rights, it is a notable responsibility. Although governments generally create better lifestyles and greater opportunities for the people, each citizen alone can protect his or her hallowed beliefs and determine what actions are justified. Those individuals are also the only ones who can be depended upon to actively fight for their rights. These infringements can be seen all throughout history, but namely during the colonization of North America and the civil rights movement of the African Americans. It is in these times of distress that individuals show they have a greater responsibility to themselves, in order to better their lives and their government.

Colonizing the future United States was a great accomplishment for Britain. The British had more land available for their growing population and a place to support the mother country. However, the treatment of the colonies began to decay and a secret consensus that the two should be separated politically began to arise. It was in these times that individuals were responsible to assemble and protect their own rights. The British government could no longer be depended upon; it had oppressed the colonists of freedoms and blatantly infringed their natural rights. In the "Speech in the Virginia Convention", Patrick Henry urges his fellow colonists to rise up and fight Britain for their rightful independence. He strategically guides them to realizing the necessity of battle. "Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" (Henry 205-206). This was an ideal time for personal responsibility. Without such strong individual motivation, Britain would still control the North American continent and the enslaved inhabitants.

Other colonists, like Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, also participated in the struggle for independence. They realized that it was their own duty to fight for their rights. Paine was less renowned, but contributed by motivating others to join and continue the battle. He recognized that, "tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph" (Paine 174). On the other hand, Jefferson could be seen as the leader of all the rebelling

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