Liberty in the History of America Essay - 2150 Words

America is commonly called the â€Å"Land of the Free†, but the abundance of liberties, and liberties for all, has not always been the case. The Puritans were some of the first to settle in the New World, but they were self-interested and did not come with the purpose of creating a free state for all. As time progressed, so did their believes, and by the time Tocqueville arrived from France, liberty was an important aspect of American life. So important that people would fight and die for it. Tocqueville, while impressed at the amount liberty and freedoms that citizens had, believed that America had a long way to go before it could call itself a truly free country. Fast forward over a hundred years later, and John Rawls lived in a time were the†¦show more content†¦Their legitimacy did not come from the people that they ruled over, but from God, and Rulers were â€Å"appointed by God† to serve â€Å"his will†. This divine sovereignty gave them to creat e and enforce the laws and standards that they liked in the name of God, when often they were truly acting with self-interest. Popular sovereignty on the other hand is considered rule by the people. Through participation, people create and sustain the government. The Puritans did not believe in rule by the people because people are inherently flawed and erroneous. In reality, it was the Puritans using the claim of divine sovereignty to push their own religious and authoritarian agenda. Most Puritan thinkers did not believe in the idea of liberty. Nathanial Ward was a strict authoritarian, and in his essay, Simple Cobbler of Aggawam, he states that he does not believe in natural rights and liberties. The only liberties one had were the ones given by God, so it can be assumed that he did not believe in freedom of expression, freedom of religion or popular sovereignty (Baker and Thomas 56). The role of the state was not to protect natural liberties, but rather, only those God given liberties. Ward strongly condoned toleration for many reasons. First, toleration of religions other than Puritanism wouldShow MoreRelatedCivil Liberties and Civil Rights Essay1296 Words   |  6 PagesCivil Liberties (And how they differ from civil rights) If the fires of freedom and civil liberties burn low in other lands, they must be made brighter in our own. If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free. If in other lands the eternal truths of the past are threatened by intolerance, we must provide a safe place for their perpetuation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1938 (Isaacs 66) Freedom of speechRead MoreGive Me Liberty1161 Words   |  5 PagesGive Me Liberty! Give Us Suffrage! â€Å"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!† This famous quote used by Patrick Henry during his Virginia Convention speech was the declaration of the many persons who faced injustice and inequality in America. The United States of America was said to be the land of opportunity and prosperity, but opportunity and prosperity for whom? Terms and conditions were not stipulated upon living in or relocating to America that liberty would only be available to those that qualifiedRead MorePaine vs Chalmers830 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish Monarchy in the English Colonies in America. Even though these two characters were established in America, their ideas concerning Democracy and Monarchy were different. Paine was in favor of the abolition of the Monarchy through democracy with his argument about class distinctions and privileges. For example, he criticized the fact that the monarchy believed their power came directly from God. Chalmers was in favor of the Monarchy ruling in the America s since he and his social class were gettingRead MoreThe United States Of America1484 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States of America has a notoriety for being a reference point of liberty and diversity from the colonial period of it s history. From the earliest starting point, notwithstanding, American liberties were attached to a blend of religious and ethnic affiliations that special a few tenants of North America over others. Although European thoughts of liberty set the tone for what was conceivable, those freedoms looked to some degree changed in pioneer North America, where indigenous and AfricanRead MoreThe Concept of Liberty in US Political History: An Analytical Essay1428 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This analytical essay is commissioned to highlight the concept of Liberty in US political history along with an in-depth analysis of era which gave rise to several Political Parties in the United States during 1776-1803. Dating back to the era of 1783, in which the American Revolution came to its end, Americans nationals, specifically the white community of America, came in accord with a common perception regarding liberty of politics in the country and perceived the republican government (republicanism)Read MoreThe Statue of Liberty Essay770 Words   |  4 PagesThe Statue of Liberty stands in the New York Harbor and has greeted many immigrants into Ellis Island. At the time, Lady Liberty was letting them know that their journey to find freedom, democracy, and a better way of life, was officially over. The Statue of Liberty is very important to many Americans because of what it represents. (Statue of Liberty National Monument)(Immigration) In 1865, Edvouvard de Laboulaye, of France, thought of the idea to build the Statue of Liberty while he was on a visitRead More Vision Achieved By Jefferson Essays879 Words   |  4 Pagesendowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.† To be more evident, how can we define these â€Å"inalienable rights† of â€Å"life†, â€Å"liberty†, and the â€Å"pursuit of happiness?† Have these inalienable rights, achieved Jefferson’s goal? I am convinced, Jefferson’s revolutionary vision of life, liberty, and happiness has at last been achieved in America. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Life is a precious gift given to us the moment we areRead MoreThe Statue of Liberty: Meaning of the Statue of Liberty Essay1603 Words   |  7 PagesTHE STATUE OF LIBERTY: MEANING OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY The statue of Liberty is national monument given to the United States by France in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution. Being among the best-known monuments in the world, it attracts between three to four million people each year. The Statue of Liberty has been a tourist destination and played many other roles in its 124-year history. Representing a woman holding aloft a torch, it stands at the entranceRead MoreHistory : The American Revolution Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesHistory never teaches fatalism. There comes a moment when the will of a handful of a Freeman breaks through the determination and opens up the roads. Human history has always been filled with individual liberty ideas. Liberty is known to be the idea that is firmly held by men in their hearts, as they were willing to fight or even die for it. It was an ecstatic feeling when they finally achieved it. The people had an idea of a constitutional freedom and the moral quality, whi ch was strongly held inRead MoreHistory : The American Revolution1442 Words   |  6 PagesHistory never teaches fatalism. There comes a moment when the will of a handful of a Freeman breaks through the determination and opens up the roads. Human history has always been filled with individual liberty ideas. Liberty is known to be the idea that is firmly held by men in their hearts, as they were willing to fight or even die for it. It was an ecstatic feeling when they finally achieved it. The people had an idea of a constitutional freedom and the moral quality, which was strongly held in