The American idea of respecting human rights came from several sources. First, the colonists had been【36】of their fights in the

The American idea of respecting human rights came from several sources. First, the colonists had been deprived of their fights in the Old World. They realized that people’s rights must be preserved. Moreover, the Bible and literature from Greece and Rome taught that people are born with basic rights. As a result, the U.S. Constitution included 10 amendments to guarantee citizens basic rights. This "Bill of Rights" promised freedom of religion, freedom of speech and of the press, the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial.
    Throughout American history, the belief in individual human rights has influenced government policies and laws. Slavery opponents argued that even slaves had fights as human beings. Finally, after the Civil War, slavery was outlawed. As industries developed, many people protested the poor working conditions. Eventually, laws were passed guaranteeing workers fair wages and working hours and prohibiting child labor. The Civil Rights Movement used human rights arguments in the fight against discrimination.     Human rights have become a global concern. The cruelty of Nazi raised public awareness of human rights, and the United Nations was established for the basic human rights of all people. Three years later, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document stated that all human beings are created free and equal in dignity and rights. Later, groups like Amnesty International were formed to keep an eye out for human rights abuses wherever they occur.
    Most nations in the world today would agree that human beings have basic rights. Of course, different countries have different perspectives about the issue. But to Americans, no matter how you define the issue, people deserve to be treated like people.