History

The Massachusetts and Pennsylvania constitutions were the first state constitutions in the US, and they therefore helped in shaping the US as a country. The Pennsylvania state constitution was the first constitution in the country, and it was thought to be the most democratic constitution in the world. However, the Massachusetts state constitution was the most democratic constitution in the country, as it treated all people equally regardless of their race, gender or color. Under this constitution, most slaves gained freedom, since the constitution allowed each and every one to enjoy their freedom without being limited by anyone (Jordan, 2012). In addition, anybody could participate in voting regardless of whether they owned land or not. Furthermore, the constitution allowed everybody to worship the Supreme Being that they felt was good according to them. On the other hand, the Pennsylvania constitution was less democratic, since it hard some clauses which seemed bias. According to the constitution, any person who did not acknowledge the religions in the country, could be able to hold an office in the US. This consequently means that atheists and polytheists could were not fit to hold any office. The constitution therefore limited the religious rights of atheists, hence making them to unfit to hold any public office.

            The natives viewed African Americans, Indians and women as a threat, and they consequently decided to join the British in war, in order to make sure that their interests remain safeguarded. If the colonists were to win the war, then this meant that most African Americans could be able to enjoy similar rights as the natives (Glenn, 2009). In addition, the US could also become a colony, whereby all the social and political order would have depended on the colonists. They therefore had to support the British, in order to avoid falling victims of segregation after losing the war. If the political and social roles were to change in the US, then this meant that African Americans, Indians and women in the US, could be able to participate in public activities in the US, and they could also be able to hold public office in the country.

Reference

Jordan, R. P. (2012). Church, state, and race: The discourse of American religious liberty, 1750-1900. Lanham, Md: University Press of America.

Glenn, E. N. (2009). Unequal freedom: How race and gender shaped American citizenship and labor. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.