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bounty (n.)

late 13c., “a gift, a reward, a favor bestowed freely;” c. 1300, “goodness, virtue; beauty; ; excellence; knightly prowess, strength, valor, chivalry,” early 14c., “a helpful act, an act of generosity, a good deed,” also “liberality in giving, generosity, munificence,” from Anglo-French bountee, Old French bonte “goodness” (12c., Modern French bonté), from Latin bonitatem (nominative bonitas) “goodness,” from bonus “good” (see bonus).

Sense of “gift bestowed by a sovereign or the state” led to extended senses of “premium or gratuity to a military recruit” (1702) and “reward for killing or taking a criminal or enemy” (1764) or dangerous animal (1847). Bounty-jumper “one who enlists in the military, collects the bounty, and flees without reporting for duty” is from the American Civil War (by 1864). Bounty-hunter is from 1893, American English, originally in reference to wild animals.

I do … promise, that there shall be paid … the following several and respective premiums and Bounties for the prisoners and Scalps of the Enemy Indians that shall be taken or killed …. [“Papers of the Governor of Pennsylvania,” 1764]

When were African Americans granted citizenship?

https://www.genealogytoday.com/genealogy/answers/When_were_African_Americans_granted_citizenship.html

Citizenship was unequivocally granted to African Americans in 1868 with ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, but it would be almost another 100 years before African Americans were accorded full protection under the law and discrimination outlawed.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 limited naturalization (and citizenship) to “free white persons,” ruling out slaves and free blacks, as well. However, free blacks were accorded a quasi-citizenship in some northern states, being allowed to vote and hold property, but this gradually diminished after 1800. And contrary to what some might believe, free blacks endured significant racial discrimination in the North.

If there was ever any doubt as to whether or not African Americans were entitled to citizenship, the Dred Scott decision of 1857 specifically set forth that African slaves (and their descendants) could never be citizens and had no citizenship rights. That decision, however, only fueled the fire.

While the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln did free the slaves in Southern states and many fought in the Union Army, it was the Thirteenth Amendment passed in 1864 that outlawed slavery throughout the United States; it did not, however, confer rights of citizenship.

Following the Civil War, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, did grant citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, but it did not end racial discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was intended to end segregation but was rarely enforced; and in 1883 the Act was ruled unconstitutional on the grounds that state governments had no power to prohibit discrimination by private individuals and organizations, paving the way for Jim Crow laws and confining African Americans to the status of second-class citizens. Many of the provisions set forth in the Civil Rights Act of 1875 were later restored in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

allegiance

“ties or obligations of a citizen or subject to a government or sovereign,” late 14c., formed in English from Anglo-French legaunce “loyalty of a liege-man to his lord,” from Old French legeance, from liege (see liege (adj.)). Corrupted in spelling by confusion with the now-obsolete legal term allegeance “alleviation, mitigation” (for which see allay (v.)). General figurative sense of “recognition of claims to respect or duty, observance of obligation” is attested from 1732. French allégeance in this sense is said to be from English.

show (n.)

c. 1300, “act of exhibiting to view,” from show (v.). Sense of “appearance put on with intention to deceive” is recorded from 1520s. Meaning “display, spectacle” is first recorded 1560s; that of “ostentatious display” is from 1713 (showy is from 1712). Sense of “entertainment program on radio or TV” is first recorded 1932. Meaning “third place in a horse race” is from 1925, American English (see the verb).

Show of hands is attested from 1789; Phrase for show “for appearance’s sake” is from c. 1700. Show business is attested from 1850; shortened form show biz used in “Billboard” from 1942. Actor’s creed the show must go on is attested from 1890. Show-stopper is from 1926; show trial first recorded 1937.

Labyrinth

c. 1400, laberynthe (late 14c. in Latinate form laborintus) “labyrinth, maze, great building with many corridors and turns,” figuratively “bewildering arguments,” from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos “maze, large building with intricate passages,” especially the structure built by Daedelus to hold the Minotaur, near Knossos in Crete, a word of unknown origin.

Apparently from a pre-Greek language; traditionally connected to Lydian labrys “double-edged axe,” symbol of royal power, which fits with the theory that the original labyrinth was the royal Minoan palace on Crete. It thus would mean “palace of the double-axe.” But Beekes finds this “speculative” and compares laura “narrow street, narrow passage, alley, quarter,” also identified as a pre-Greek word. Used in English for “maze” early 15c., and in figurative sense of “confusing state of affairs” (1540s). As the name of a structure of the inner ear, the essential organ of hearing, from 1690s.