American Liberty: From Past to Present

Liberty is a concept that is commonly used by the clean Ameri rotter in his daily affairs. A lexical definition of shore leave states that it refers to the freedom to believe or act without the restriction of an unnecessary force. As far as the individual is defecate-to doe with, indecency is the capacity of a individual to act according to his will. But do we really feel the memoir of the Statess conversancy? Do we really understand the historical crimsonts that baffle shaped the emancipation that we know of and enjoy in these contemporary meters?In this paper, I will be examining the roots of Ameri merchantman shore leave from the excogitation era to the modern debates surrounding the concept of liberty. I will likewise be looking into the prop 1nts of liberty and those who turn over divisiond a significant role in defining and upholding liberty as we know it today. The base Era Hundreds of years in the first place today, America was an whole different place. Long before the creation of the shaping, different European countries have already established their own settlements across America. The Spaniards and the French were among the early colonizers until the season of the British.During the ascertain of the British Empire, severe shortage in human bear on resulted to enslavement and indentured servitude of the natives. In the years that followed, counterpoints broke-out between the Native Americans and the position settlers. It should be noned, however, that Virginia already had black indentured servants in 1619 after macrocosm settled by Englishmen in 1607 (Virginia Records Timeline 1553-1743, http//memory. loc. gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjvatm3. html), thereby suggesting that the attainment of genuine liberty from the colonizers is yet to be realized.It is perhaps during the time when the English pilgrims came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 and established their colonies that the concept of liberty came act ive, not the least in the setting of the pre- disposition history of America. As Mark Sargent writes in his article The Conservative concordat The Rise of the Mayflower Compact in American Myth, roughly of the passengers in the Mayflower ship who were not travelling to the New World for apparitional reasons would insist upon complete freedom when they stepped ashore since the New World is already outside the territory c overed in their patent from the British crown (Sargent, p.236). after the Seven Years War between the British forces and the alliance of French and American Indian forces in 1763, the British Empire enforced a serial publication of taxes on the Americans so as to cover a mountain of the cost for piting the colony. Since the Americans considered themselves as subjects of the King, they understood that they had the like correctlys to that of the Kings subjects living in great(p) Britain.However, the Sugar Act, Currency Act twain passed in 1764the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Act of 1767, to name a few, compelled the Americans to bow out drastic measures to send the message to the British Empire that they were being toughened as though they were less than the Kings subjects in Great Britain (Jensen, p. 186). Moreover, the taxes were enforced despite the lack of representation of the American colonists in the Westminster Parliament.One of the noteworthy protests preparen by the Americans is the Boston Tea Party in 1773 where numerous crates containing tea that belonged to the British East India Company were destroyed aboard ships in Boston Harbor. As a result, the British disposal passed a series of acts popularly known as the Intolerable Acts in 1774, further fanning the emergence oppression felt by the American colonists. Eventually, the American Revolution ensued blood in as early as 1775 when British forces confiscated arms and arrested revolutionaries in Concord, thereby sparking the first hostilities after the Intolerable Acts were passed (Jensen, p.434). From 1775 to 1783, the colonies that formed their own nonparasitic states fought as one as the Thirteen Colonies of North America. Lasting for somewhat eight years, the American extremist War ended in the verification of the Treaty of Paris which formally recognized the Independence of America from the British Empire. Between these years, the colonies underwent several changes which constitute straggle of the growths toward the framing of the Constitution (Bobrick, p. 88).One of these changes is the reel towards the acceptance of notable republican ideals, such as liberty and unalienable remedys as core values, among several members of the colonies. Moreover, the republican ideals of the time saw putre concomitantion as the greatest of all threats to liberty. In essence, the concept of liberty during the founding era revolves around the liberation of the American colonies from the British Empire and the growing oppression it gave to the co lonists through taxation burdens and a series of repressive acts.For the American colonists, liberty meant the severing of its ties from the British government activity and the creation of its own separatist nation recognized by opposite countries. The writing and ratification of the Constitution On the fourth of July in 1776, the second Continental Congress write and officially adopted the United States Declaration of Independence which established the insularism of the thirteen American coloniesthe colonies which were at war with Great Britain from 1775from the British Empire.Although others claim that the founding moment of America is not on July 4 besides two days earlier (Groom, http//independent. co. uk/arts-entertainment/books/review/the-fourth-of-july-and-the-founding-of-america-by-peter-de-bolla-455878. html), it remains a fact that there came a point in time when America finally decl ared its liberty. The evolution of American political possibilityespecially that which is concerned with libertycan be better understood during the confrontation over the writing and the ratification of the Constitution.In fact, the Declaration asserts that batch have unalienable rights which complicate invigoration, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Articles of Confederation served as the constitution which governed the thirteen states as come apart of its alliance called the United States of America. After being sanctioned in 1781, the United States of America was brought as a political totality under a confederate government in order to defend better the liberties of the deal and of for each one state. Meaning, each state retained its independence and sovereignty despite being politically held together as part of the heart.However, the Articles were not without opposition and criticisms from several notable political thinkers of the time. For example, James capital of Wisconsin saw several main flaws in the Articles of Confederation that were alarming, or be the very existence and purpose of the Articles first and foremost. For one, capital of Wisconsin was concerned about the dangers posed by the divided republics or factions given that their interest may stand in meshing to the interests of others. capital of Wisconsin argues in The Federalist, specifically in Federalist No.10, that in order to guard the citizens from the dangers posed by these individuals who have contradicting interests, a large republic should be created, a republic that will shelter the citizens from the possible harms brought by other states. It is likewise outstanding to note that the union is not a homogenous group of citizens with the same political inclinations. capital of Wisconsin as well as argues that for the government to become effective it needs to be a hybrid of a national and a federal constitution.The government should be balanced in the sense that it should be federal in some aspects and republican in others instead of giving more weight to each separate state over the larger republic. In his Federalist No. 39, Madison proposes and describes a republic government guided by three organic principles the derivation of the governments legitimate index finger through the live with of the populate, representatives elected as administrators in the government, and a limitation on the distance of the terms of service rendered by the representatives (Kobylka and Carter, p.191). Madison also pointed out in Federalist No. 51 that there should be checks and balances in the government, specifically among the judicial, legislative and the executive disseveres. The judiciary, therefore, is at par with the other two inasmuch as each of the other two are at par with one another. expectant one of the three more powers disables the other two to check if that distinguish is still functioning in spite of appearance its perimeters.As a result, the more powerful branch becomes a partisan branch which consequently crea tes dangers to the liberties of the people. Another important part of the evolution of American political theory is the contention raised by Patrick Henry. In a letter sent to Robert Pleasants in January 18, 1773, Patrick Henry sees the kind between the new government and the institution of bondage as a contradiction precisely because while the new government is said to be founded on liberty, there the evil that is thraldom persisted under the new government.During those times, thralldom was not yet abolished and that the new government was unable to meet the take exception of living up to its roles and foundations by failing to address the institution of slavery and demolishing it altogether. Moreover, Henry understood the efforts of secession from the hands of England were a enumerate of freedom or slavery, which can also be looked upon as a question of either a freedom from or a good continuation of tax slavery from the British.While Madison was part of the Federalists who were supporting the ratification of the Constitution, the Anti-Federalists obviously argued against its ratification. It was Patrick Henry who led the group in criticizing the contents of the proposed Constitution. For instance, Henry argued that the forge We the People in the Preamble of the Constitution was misleading primarily because it was not necessarily the people who agreed and created the proposed Constitution however the representatives of each alive(p) state.Thus, Henry argues that the Preamble should instead read as We the States which in call on delegated power to the union. Another argument of the Anti-Federalists is the claim that the cardinal government and, therefore, the central power efficiency result to a revival of the monarchic oddball of rule reminiscent of the British Empire which the Patriots fought. The fear is that, by delegating a considerable amount of power to the central government, the liberties of the individual states and the people are we akened as a result.Nevertheless, the Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 and later ratified in each of the state conventions held. The anti-federalists share a significant role in strengthening some of the points of the Constitution through the succeed amendments. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are popularly known as the billet of Rights it is largely influenced by the arguments of the anti-federalists. For the most part, the Bill of Rights aimed to guarantee that Congress shall not create laws which stand against the rights and liberties of the citizens of the nation.In effect, the Bill of Rights limits the power of the federal government in order to secure the liberties of the people in the United States. In Federalist No. 84, Alexander Hamilton argues against the Bill of Rights for the reason that the American citizens will not have to necessarily surrender their rights as a result of the ratification of the Constitution and, thus, the protection of the rights through the Bill is unnecessary. Moreover, Hamilton also argues that creating a Bill of Rights would effectively limit the rights of the people since those that are not listed in the Bill will not be considered as rights.In rejoinder to the argument, the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution was introduced and ratified later on. The amendment specifically states that the rights of the people are not to be limited to those which are listed in the Constitution. As it can be observed, the time before and during the ratification of the Constitution and the succeeding amendments make reflect how the people at the time sought to protect the liberties that they have realized and gained after the American Revolution and the defeat of the British Empire.Moreover, the debates at that time revolved around the guinea pig of what to do with the liberties gained and how to secure them for the attack generations. One sidethe Anti-Federalistsargues that the central government weakens the in dependence and sovereignty of the states as well as the rights and liberties of the people. The other sidethe Federalistsargues that the Constitution will divine service preserve and strengthen the Union. Modern debates In the years that followed, debates over the rendering of the Constitution, the role of the government and the place of the individual in American auberge have escalated.In his essay Resistance to courteous Government (popularly known as Civil disobedience) first published in 1849, Henry David Thoreau asserts that the people should not simply remain passive and allow the government to be an agent of injustice. Much of Thoreaus political beliefs eventually follow that same philosophy. In his work Walden published in 1854, Thoreau attempts to live a life of solitude in a cabin, a personal manner from the reaches of the society. In one of his days in Walden, Thoreau was arrested for the charge of not reaching his taxes. His defense was that he refuses to pay federa l taxes to a government that tolerates slavery.In essence, the fact that Thoreau decided to stay in solitude for approximately two years (although the contents of Walden was made to get on as though all the events happened within just a year) signifies his stopping point not to conform to the dictates of the society. On the contrary, Thoreau lived a life of liberty, free to do anything that he chooses without the institutions of society restraining him. The same sentimentnon-conformity or disobedience to the dictates of the society, especially the governmentechoes through in Thoreaus other work, which is Civil disobedience.Thoreau asserts that the only obligation which I have a right to gull is to do at any time what I think is right (Thoreau, http//sniggle. net/Experiment/index. php? entry=rtcgp04). That passage, along with the rest of Civil Disobedience and its theme in general, implies that people have an inherent liberty, which is the liberty to do any time what they think is right. Taken altogether in the background of the concept of liberty, Thoreau seems to suggest that people ought to disobey a government that oppresses other people since each individual has inalienable rights that nobody can take away, not even the government.In the face of oppression such as slavery (which was still very much a part of America within twenty years after the ratification of the original Constitution since the issue of slavery was a very delicate and contentious matter during the Philadelphia Convention), Thoreau even suggested that Abolitionists should not only confine themselves with the mere thought of abolishing slavery but resisting the instructions of the government such as paying taxes.Thus, as a reading of Thoreaus works would suggest, to have liberty is to act upon all important(p) issues instead of passively allowing contentious actions of the government to thrive and continue. I cannot inspection and repair but think that Thoreaus concept of liberty is something that is absolute, which I also take to mean as confined only within ones disposition instead of being limited by the government. Moreover, since Thoreau suggests that liberty is doing any time what one thinks is right an individual should first know if what he or she thinks is indeed right instead of being wrong.Charles Madison notes that Thoreau was severely concerned with the ever pressing problem of how one world power earn a living and remain free (Madison, p. 110). I cannot protagonist but begin to think that Thoreau attempts at embodying and enacting his individualistic beliefs. As Leigh Kathryn Jenco argues, The theory and practice of democracy fundamentally conflict with Thoreaus conviction in moral autonomy and conscientious action (Jenco, p.355) democracy is essentially the rule of the majority which consequently ignores the decisions of the minority. However, I think that much of Thoreaus thoughts were heavily influenced by the circumstances during his time. His aversion towards the imposed taxation policy of the government stems from the fact that the government at that time still tolerates slavery which is at one time against an individuals liberty.Thoreaus insight on the perceived conflict between the liberties being upheld by the Constitution and the actual state of the government during his time points us to the ideal that the people are sovereign because the people is the ultimate source of power of the government. If it is indeed the case that the Constitution upholds the rights of individuals including the right to liberty, it seems appropriate to consider as well why slavery at that time was not immediately abolished entirely especially at the time when the Constitution was ratified.In fact, it was only in 1865 under the Thirteenth Amendmentabout 80 years after the original Constitution was adoptedwhen slavery was legally abolished and when Congress was given the power to finally enforce abolition. During the time when slaver y was not yet abolished and immediately after the original Constitution was ratified, it can be said that not all citizens living in America were given full liberties. Several people were still laboring as slaves to their American masters.That is perhaps an often neglected piece of history that undermines the aim of creating a Constitution and a government that will uphold the rights of the people. The pre-American subverter war, the founding era, the ratification of the original Constitution, the creation of the Bill of Rights and the other succeeding amendments to the Constitutionall these stand as testimonies to the evolution of American political thought. The concept of liberty has played an important role in the development of the federal government and the Constitution.Although the history of American political thought might reveal that the attainment of liberty through the years has never been a smooth journey, contemporary America has reaped a large amount of benefits from the sacrifices and ideas of the Founding Fathers and all the people who lived and died during those times. Some might even argue that liberty is yet to be truly attained in todays American society. But if liberty is yet to be attained in practice, how is it possible that people are given the right to air their grievances before the government?How is it possible that people have the liberty to do as they please so long as what they do does not conflict with what is legal? In any case, the present American Constitution guarantees the liberty of the people and that there are institutions which seek to promote and guard that important right. Had it been the case that the early Americans swallowed everything that the British Empire throw in their way and that the Founding Fathers abandoned the creation and amendment of the Constitution, the United States of America would not have been the land of the free and the home of the brave.Works Cited Bobrick, Benson. Fight for Freedom The Americ an Revolutionary War. 1st ed. New York, NY Atheneum, 2004. Groom, Nick. The Fourth of July and the Founding of America, by Peter De Bolla. 2007. Independent. Co. Uk. October 16 2008. . Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist, on the New Constitution. 1787. October 18, 2008 . Jenco, Leigh Kathryn. Thoreaus Critique of Democracy. The survey of Politics 65. 3 (2003) 355-81. Jensen, Merrill. The Founding of a Nation A muniment of the American Revolution 1763-1776. Indianapolis, IN Hackett Publishing Company, 2004. Kobylka, Joseph F. , and Bradley Kent Carter. Madison, The Federalist, & the Constitutional Order tender-hearted Nature & Institutional Structure. Polity 20.2 (1987) 190-208. Madison, Charles. Henry David Thoreau Transcendental Individualist. Ethics 54. 2 (1944) 110-23. Sargent, Mark L. The Conservative Covenant The Rise of the Mayflower Compact in American Myth. The New England Quarterly 61. 2 (1988) 233-51. Thoreau, Henry David. Resistance to Civil Government. 1849. October 18 2008. . Virginia Records Timeline 1553-1743. The Library of Congress. October 17 2008. .