Rebel. A person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler. If a rebel is someone who goes against authority why would we admire them in America? Well, America values the rights of our citizens, especially the right to freedom of speech and expression. When one thinks of America they frequently think of our freedom. Rebels are just people utilizing their right to freedom, they strive for definite change that our government simply isn’t providing us. In fact, America was built by rebels, we are a nation born of our own rebellion.
There are many individuals that we honor, even praise, for their rebellious acts. Such as Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells, Sitting Bull, Margaret Sanger, and so many more throughout history. Susan B. Anthony gave women’s right a fighting chance, as one of the sole leaders of the campaign, Anthony initially made some of the most notable changes. Much like Anthony, Margaret Sanger fought for women’s rights. However, she focused largely on women’s contraceptives. Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in 1916, after tragically losing her mother to a number of unwanted miscarriages. The clinic helped many women who had gone through back alley abortions.
We aren’t done yet, these ladies are not the only ones fighting for human rights, in the 1890s a crusading journalist and abolitionist brought a gruesome issue to light. Her name was Ida B. Wells and she had led an anti-lynching crusade. During the latter half of the 1800s, there had been many occurrences of lynching against African Americans. Having had enough of these unjustified crimes, Wells decided to stand against discrimination. Another who fought for human rights was Sitting Bull. He was widely known as the Indian man who led an uprising against the United States government. As the US tried to take his tribe’s land, a protest against our government began and a war broke out.
Rebel wars and riots such as the Battle of Little Big Horn, the Draft Riots, Battle of Blair Mountain, and Shay’s Rebellion have been recognized and renowned. All of these rebellious acts were brought on by our own people, these people believed they had a right to fair and just treatment. For example, the upbringing of the draft was transpired by young men who resented those who could buy their way out of the draft.
