John Locke, American Individualism and The Declaration of Independence
&#;Individual rights precede government; they are not given or bestowed by government. They are unalienable, that is, they belong to each and every individual as a human being, and no political power or authority may claim the legitimacy to abridge or abolish them.&#; &#; Richard M. Ebeling
Personal and economic freedom are under attack in the United States and in many other parts of the world. It is seen most clearly in this year’s contest for the White House in the U.S. presidential election. In all the rhetoric about America’s political, social and economic problems that is heard from the lips of the Democratic and Republican Party candidates for the presidency there is one phrase that is hardly ever mentioned or considered important: the liberty of the individual.
Neither Clinton nor Trump Place Any Value on Liberty
Hillary Clinton’s mantra focuses on redistributive entitlements; racial, social and gender group privileges or burdens; and social engineering of human relationships based on superimposed collective identity politics. Deceptions, lies, and an arrogant self-righteous tone of to
&#;Fifty years after the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson explained it to his fellow Virginian Henry Lee:
When [the colonies were] forced &#; to resort to arms for redress, an appeal to the tribunal of the world was deemed proper for our justification. &#; Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion (Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, May 8, ).
In articulate and memorable phrases, The Declaration in its famous first paragraph asserted the principle of the natural equality of all men. Then it listed grievance after grievance against the King and by implication the British Parliament. But in what ways is it, to use Jefferson&#;s words, an
The Philosophy of the Declaration of Independence: Part 1
Smith continues his series on the Declaration of Independence by looking to the intellectual history behind its famous reference to unalienable rights.
George H. Smith was formerly Senior Research Fellow for the Institute for Humane Studies, a lecturer on American History for Cato Summer Seminars, and Executive Editor of Knowledge Products. Smith’s fourth and most recent book, The System of Liberty, was published by Cambridge University Press in
On June 7, , the Virginian Richard Henry Lee introduced the following resolution on the floor of the Second Continental Congress:
That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
After considering this resolution twice (June 8 and 10), Congress postponed further consideration until July 1. Although the resolution was certain to pass, unanimous ratification by the colonies was wanted, and for various reasons this was not possible unti
Study Notes on &#;The Declaration of Independence: A Historical Analysis&#;
The Declaration of Independence: A Historical Analysis and Its Lasting Impact on Political Thought
Introduction
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, , is one of the most significant documents in world history, marking the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation and laying the foundation for modern democratic principles. This seminal text was not only a formal declaration of the American colonies&#; desire for independence from British rule, but it also introduced revolutionary ideas about the rights of individuals, the nature of government, and the relationship between citizens and the state. Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a powerful statement on the principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty. This study module will explore the historical context, philosophical influences, political significance, and the enduring legacy of the Declaration of Independence.
1. Historical Context of the Declaration of Independence
Background to the American Revolution
The American colonies, established by Great Britain in the 17th and 18t
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