Liberty From the Age of Exploration to the Revolutionary period, many factors shaped the connotation of the word liberty. Liberty is defined as, “the quality or state of being free” (Merriam-Webster). This means religious freedoms, political freedoms, social freedoms, and many freedoms we may not think of on a daily basis. Throughout history, the word liberty has developed into a word with a positive connotation as well as a word used to describe the freedom we have today. The idea of liberty developed because of, religious persecutions, restrictions, and maltreatment during the fifteenth century through the seventeenth century. Maltreatment was very common before the revolution. The treatment of slaves played a role in creating a sociality built on the “want” and “need” of liberty. During the time of slavery, “black slaves (totaled) 25 percent of the population …show more content…
(and in some counties 50 percent (Zinn, A Kind of Revolution, 1). These slaves were “simply suppressed for the sake of gold.” (Middle Passage). Slavery was very cruel and we can learn how cruel slavery was from Antonio, a slave who ran away many times, but when he was captured for the last time. His master “whipped his ‘bareback’ with the branches from a pear tree, poured hot grease into his wounds, then tied him to a ladder where he slowly died” (Shi, Tindall, 94). His master “Syman Overzee… was charged with murder – and [was] acquitted” (Shi, Tindall, 94). Not only was Syman in the wrong because of what we had done, but also the ones who acquitted him were in the wrong as well. The death of Antonio was tragic and unnecessary. The lack of justice for him and many others would encourage and increase rebellions within the colonies. These rebellions would be the first signs in creating the want of liberty or freedom for oneself. Religious persecution “[was] tearing Europe apart in ways that would greatly influence settlement in the New World” (Shi, Tindall, 20). Catholica and Protestants, “persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and killed each other in large numbers in Europe – and in the Americas “(Shi, Tindall, 22). This was a factor in creating the colonists’ view of what liberty was, and what they wanted liberty to be like for them. To have the freedom to choose what religion you wish to practice was a major stepping stone in creating the overall sense of liberty within the colonists’ minds. This sense of freedom would later be seen in the colonies in 1776 from the “Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom” (Shi, Tindall, 76). This stated, “no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, (or) place of ministry whatsoever… (and) men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions (on) matters of religion.” (Shi, Tindall, 176) Restrictions during this time period were very common as well.
One major restriction was not everyone was able to vote. Political positions were voted on by rich white males. The laws establishing whether or not you could vote were lowered after 1776 and “any male taxpayer could vote.” (Shi, Tindall, 174). This was a major freedom that the colonists gained and which furthermore created a sense of what liberty was and how it felt to be free. Woman’s rights were another restriction Before the revolution “women could not vote or hold [an] office” (Shi, Tindall, 177). They also, couldn’t “preach” and most didn’t have a “formal education” (Shi, Tindall, 177). After the revolution women were able to vote, hold office, and preach. Not only were the men feeling this sense of freedom, but also the women were as well. Throughout history, liberty has progressed from being a “thought” to becoming reality through, religious persecution, restrictions, and maltreatment. The U.S wouldn’t be the same if our ancestors hadn’t gone through the challenges they did, and our thought of the word liberty wouldn’t be the
same.
Americans went through a long and difficult journey before they were truly able to be free from England. Colonists in America fought in the American Revolution to terminate British rule; the battle for independence continued with the War of 1812. Although all the odds were against the Americans, they managed to be victorious in both wars by rebelling, standing up to British threat, and strategizing.
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de La Fayette (French pronunciation: [maʁki də la fajɛt]; 6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), often known simply as Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France. Lafayette was a general in the American Revolutionary War and a leader of the Garde nationale during the French Revolution.
According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of liberty is, “the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one 's way of life, behavior, or political views.” After just being under the tyranny of England, the American people sought a weak central government, such as under the articles of confederation, however
Foner focuses, specifically, on how the definition of liberty has been molded over time. He describes how other factors played a role in the change of liberty using three interrelated themes. The first theme, as he describes it, covers the dimensions or meanings of freedom. The dimensions include “political freedom, or the right to participate in public affairs… civil liberties, or rights that individuals can assert against authority…[and] moral or ‘Christian’ ideal of freedom,” the freedom to act morally or ethically good (Foner xvii). It also includes personal freedom or being able to make individual choices free from coercion, and “economic freedom…[which covers how] the kinds of economic relations constitute freedom for… [individual’s working lives]” (Foner xviii). All these dimensions are looked at individually as they play a role in reshaping the definition of freedom or liberty.
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a war between England and the colonies which were settled earlier by the English. There were many factors and events that led to the American Revolution. The Revolution was mainly an economic rebellion that was fueled by taxation without representation following the French and Indian War. The English Parliament was more often than not considered cruel and unfair by the colonists. With conflicts over trade, taxes and government representation, the colonies were at a starting line of a revolution that would later transform into the basis of the United States of America.
“The Revolution was the most radical and far reaching event in American history.” This is the premise of Gordon S. Wood’s book The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Within these pages Wood attempts to prove that the American Revolution was radical because it fundamentally changed the social and political structures of colonial America, structures that had always been fused together. Accordingly, he asserts that the separation of these institutions forms the basis of his argument for radicalism.
The American Revolution was a conflict that arose from growing tensions between Great Britain and the Thirteen North American colonies. It was a long bloody war and one of the most well-known, and because of that it has many interpretations, and these interpretations have made it a challenge to be able to come to a single understanding of the war. In this week’s readings, two different views on the same war are given. The American Yawp describes the American colonies point of view on the revolution while the History Lesson discusses how British wanted to control America but instead drove them to rebel and fight for their independence. The colonists saw the war for their independence as a revolution, but through British eyes, events and people were, not surprisingly, seen quite differently.
Throughout the course of history there have been many events up to the independence of America. Some of them were small, where others were much more significant. One of the more important events was the Boston tea party. When the Boston tea party comes to mind, many people think of the ship and the tea and patriotism in the 18th century. Let’s talk about what actually is the Boston tea party.
Revolutions are usually described as “radical” events. A “radical” event is defined as one that greatly changes the political, cultural, social, and/or economic nature of a society. I believe that the American Revolution was a radical event that dramatically changed our society. There were many impacts to the changes such as slavery, primogeniture, the Articles of Confederation, republican motherhood, and government. This was the time in life, that we as America gained our independence from Britain. The American Revolution is what shaped our world to become what it is today.
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson (with the help of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, as well as many others), was signed on July 1st, 1776 in Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to appeal to the British Parliament and King and explain why the American Colonies wanted independence from England. Thomas Jefferson and the other delegates from the Second Continental Congress agreed that, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator certain unalienable rights” (p. 112) which became the base for nearly all of the points made in the document. Logical and emotional statements were used throughout the document to make impactful statements that would convince the audience of the seriousness of the matters they were presenting.
The French and Indian war had left the British economy in ruins. The secretary of state William Pitt had spent copious money on the war. In order to accommodate for the massive debt they had, the British thought it reasonable to tax the colonist on certain goods to help. Considering the British had fought for them, they saw no reason the colonist would oppose. Some of these taxes were the Townshend acts, the Sugar act, which was the tax on sugar and allowed conviction for smuggling without a court case. The stamp act, which was a tax on anything paper, and the Currency act. Some acts were added in hopes of bringing in money, others were not. There were the Writs of Assistance which allowed them to search cargo without a warrant, there was the
There were many diverse factors that precipitated the American Revolution. After the Enlightenment, there were colonists that believed they needed a new form of government. This new form of government would not have the power to have complete authority over their citizens, like what the British had over them. These colonists did not believe in being loyal to Britain, and supported the American Revolution. Most colonists however did not support the idea of branching away from the mother country of Great Britain, and went against the idea of the United States becoming its own country.
Throughout history freedom has had many different meanings and definitions; based on race, gender, and ethnicity. According to the dictionary freedom means the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint (“freedom” def. 1). Freedom may seem like something given to everyone however it was something workers had to fight for. Not everyone believed that workers’ rights needed to be changed, which led to a long battle between workers, employers and the government. To the working class people freedom meant making higher wages, having regulated hours, workable conditions and the right to free speech.
The American Ideological Consensus is that “…the American people have shared much of the same ideals, the same basic principles, and the same patterns of belief” (McClenaghan 104). When America filled itself with ideologically homogenous people, their beliefs started to define our nation and became American identities. If asked what they think of America, peoples of other nations would say that the roads are made of glass, opportunity is in the air, and civil rights are plentiful. These accounts maybe accentuated; however, the underlying message is that the American people have more freedoms then the peoples of other nations do. The most widely known American identity is freedom, and even though that American identity has been tried and tested throughout much of its history, it can still be said that America is a land of liberty.
America the Country of the people, the land of the free where everyone is entitled rights and responsibilities that are vital in order to preserve their nations democratic government. The freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others, and also the freedom to express oneself. Those are just to name a few. Each of these has an importance in their government in order to maintain a vigorous nation.