As of 1877, African Americans and women had made some progress but still faced significant challenges in achieving equality and universal rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence.
1. **African Americans:**
- **Emancipation Proclamation:** Issued by President Lincoln in 1863, it freed enslaved African Americans in Confederate states.
- **13th Amendment:** Ratified in 1865, it officially abolished slavery in the United States.
- **Reconstruction Amendments:** The 14th Amendment (1868) granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, while the 15th Amendment (1870) granted the right to vote regardless of race.
- **Black Codes:** Laws enacted in Southern states limited the rights of freed slaves, including restrictions on their movements and job opportunities.
- **Sharecropping:** Many African Americans became sharecroppers, which often led to cycles of debt and poverty.
2. **Women:**
- **Seneca Falls Convention:** In 1848, women's rights activists gathered to demand suffrage and equal rights for women.
- **19th Amendment:** Passed in 1920, it granted women the right to vote, marking a significant achievement in the women's rights movement.
- **Cult of Domesticity:** Many women were still confined to traditional roles as homemakers and caretakers, limiting their opportunities for education and work outside the home.
- **Limited Legal Rights:** Women had restricted property rights, could not easily divorce, and had few legal protections against abuse or discrimination.
In conclusion, while some progress was made by African Americans and women by 1877, they still faced systemic discrimination, limited rights, and societal barriers that prevented them from fully realizing the ideals of equality and universal rights as articulated in the Declaration of Independence.
