Ethical Issues

Ethical issues; meaning conforming to good morals, actions, or right principles of conduct, are problems that we encounter almost every day. Thinking about the word ethics brings to mind a controversial issue such as abortion, prejudice, or equalization of human rights. Goods ethics also means the simple things like telling the truth, avoiding cheating and manipulation of others, obeying the law, helping others, and doing what is morally right according to the standards set by our society. While taking United States History, the class encountered women 's suffrage, slavery, child labor, and much prejudice against others of diverse ethical and religious backgrounds. Although the people of the set time period may not have viewed them as being morally inapt, today 's society knows that such behavior is unacceptable. The role of women in Early America Before the 1800 's women were bound to the homes and farms and maintained a structured home, while the men worked. Women did not receive equal rights nor did they vote or hold office. Respectable women were married and confined to being homemakers. During the 1860 's women found more occupations, such as shop clerks, teachers, "type writers", and some even worked in the industrial fields. In the 1920 's when the nineteenth amendment was passed, women became eligible to vote. Today in the modern world women 's suffrage still exists in the Mid-East and other countries, but the United States considers it unethical and unfair. Women have equal rights and equal access to employment, property, and education. Although today we consider the undermining of women cruel and wrong, that was the norm and a tolerable part of every day life.

Child Labor During the late 18th and early 19th century child labor was a popular resource for employment. It was inexpensive and easy to obtain. In December 1790 the first American factory began production. The machines were tended by a labor force of

Cited: Carnes and Garraty, The American Nation: 11 edition,2003