the government did not grant them rights.  The government intervention was to recognize and protect their inalienable rights.  That's why the endowment clause of the declaration of independence was quoted when we passed the 13th amendment 14th amendment 15th amendment and 19th amendment.

 

Yes, slavery was unamerican the moment that Jefferson put pen to paper as the foundations of our democracy.  Yes, Jim crowe was blatantly wrong given not only the declaration of independence but the slave amendments.  Yes, women should have had the right to vote from the founding of the country.  

 

Governments cannot and do not GRANT rights.  Governments recognize them and can even infringe on them, but they do not GRANT rights.  

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