1250-1500 words. APA or MLA style.“All men are created equal.” This declaration of the equality of human beings was radical in its time, and has come to us through the centuries as a basic princ

 1250-1500 words. APA or MLA style.

“All men are created equal.” This declaration of the equality of human beings was radical in its time, and has come to us through the centuries as a basic principle of democracy. And yet, as our readings show, the practices of US society have been challenged—and were challenged even in the 18th century—by various American voices, for not living up to the promise of the phrase. The debates around these questions have produce different and contradictory ideas of what “American identity” actually means.