This 780 word essay is called "Five Rights". It describes five rights we have as American citizens.

All American citizens are guaranteed three inalienable rights, given to us the day we are born; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As stated in the Declaration of Independence," ... endowed by their Creator within certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." these words, shaped our country into the nation it is today. Within these three rights, several other freedoms are also granted to us. Freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the right to vote, the right to an education, and the right to public safety are some of the most important rights that any American citizen is granted. The aforementioned rights help ensure that all men are able to express themselves freely. They pledge that all men are in fact, created equal, because we are all given the same rights, no more, no less.

As American citizens we are given the freedom of speech.

English: Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have...

Martin Luther King leaning on a lectern. Deutsch: ...

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the 1964 Civil R...

The freedom of speech covers different areas, for example discussions between two or more people, classroom debates, television, radio, picketing, chanting, and even symbolic speech. Symbolic speech is when you use actions instead of words, for instance wearing an armband or a particular color ribbon to symbolize a cause. In the 1970's, there were thousands and thousands of Americans who picketed against the Vietnam War. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the front steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Freedom of speech is important because it is how we express ourselves and how we attain essential information.

Freedom of religion is another right given to us as Americans. We can worship whoever, whatever, and whenever we choose without fear of persecution from others. The very first Americans came here from Britain to get away...