The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Discovering Liberty

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Liberty | One Nation of Many Peoples | Liberty Quiz

Latest Changes: 07Feb19 - split off lists of resources / 07Feb26 - go to new format / 07Sep06 - add issue and concept sections, History Wiz /

What does liberty mean? What kinds of liberty are there?
Which of our liberties was the Constitution designed to protect?
How do the liberties enjoyed by our neighbors affect the liberties we enjoy?

What does the word "Liberty" mean?        Definitions of Liberty Why is Liberty an issue throughout our lives? Consider how your liberties in the following areas change as you grow from being a baby to being near death in old age: to eat an ice cream sundae to stay up until after midnight to drive a car to visit a friend at 10 PM to vote for whomever you please to give as much money as you wish to any charity you wish How is each liberty affected by your health, family practice, religion, social custom, and law? Who (or what) controls access to each liberty at birth? If the controlling agent for a liberty changes as you age, what is the reason for the change? How did the concept of Liberty arise? Read Foundations of the U.S. Constitution and for each document list what liberties (if any) were enhanced by it. Remember that liberty implies freedom from intrusion into your physical and mental territory by someone or something (for example, a government or a religion) as well as freedom to do what you wish without external restraint. How did a lack of Liberty drive Europeans to America?       New Hope for Emigrants to America How was Liberty embedded in colonial governance documents?       Colonial Charters Why did Liberty become such a critical issue for Americans in the mid-1700s?       Resistance to Abuse of Power       Escalation to Repression and Rebellion Extended Discussions of the Origins of the Demand for Liberty in America       Modern Historians Confront the American Revolution, by Murray N. Rothbard, in Literature of Liberty: A Review of Contemporary Liberal Thought Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jan/Mar 1978) Updated: August 3, 2004       The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, by Bernard Bailyn, enlarged ed. (Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge MA, 1992)

HistoryWiz provides a well-illustrated over-view of issues, people, and events of the American Revolution.

Right Demanded, Rights Enacted The first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as The Bill of Rights because they name and protect the individual liberties for which U.S. patriots fought an eight-year war. Many Congressional delegates hesitated to ratify the U.S. Constitution before it was amended to incorporate safeguards against the sort of abuse of power that had led to the American Revolution in 1775. Some actions related to personal initiatives are phrased positively as Liberty to.. without Penalty Am. No. practice any religion 1 voice or publish any opinion 1 gather peacefully to discuss any topic 1 ask the government to fix a problem 1 keep and carry weapons 2 Some actions related to government initiatives are phrased positively as Right to.. Am. No. be tried promptly and in public 6 fairly compensated for property confiscated for government use 5 hear the legal charges against you and the basis for these charges 6 be tried by a jury made up of unbiased jurors from your own community 6 hear/view all testimony and to question all witnesses in a trial 6 Some government iniatives that would infringe on personal rights are prohibited except in specified emergencies: Freedom from Am. No. being forced to have soldiers live in your home during peacetime 3 having your home searched and items siezed until a judge agrees there is probable cause 4 being jailed and tried a serious crime until a jury agrees there is probable cause 5 being tried a second time for a serious offense after being judged innocent 5 being forced to testify against yourself 5 having property confiscated or being injured or killed unless there is a legal basis and an opportunity for a court hearing 5 Congress is explicitly barred from certain actions that might result in infringement on the above rights: Congress is barred from Am. No. establishing a state religion 1 establishing a state religion 1

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E Pluribus Unum  -- One Nation, Created from Many Peoples The E Pluribus Unum Project at Assumption College (Worcestor MA) is a very extensive Web site designed to provide middle and high school teachers with lesson plans, teacher resources, and teaching materials that illustrate and explore how the tensions between variety and uniformity have been negotiated and resolved in the United States since the Revolution . How have Americans understood what it means to be "many"? How have Americans defined unity, and how have they attempted to achieve it? How have Americans worked toward making "many" into "one? How do Americans negotiate with one another when they must overcome their differences? Direct links are made to the topics that are most central to the theme of the RSAR, but you may explore the full site through the above link. Read the basis for the design of these educational presentations on American History and Culture. The project is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Linked from the home page by What is an American? are the areas: The Search for a National Symbol The Search for "The" American Identity The Search for an American Voice The Search for an American Literary Canon Linked from the home page by 1770s are the areas: Reading in the Revolutionary Era Writing & Printing in the Revolutionary Era Speaking in the Revolutionary Era Picturing in the Revolutionary Era Singing in the Revolutionary Era Celebrating the Revolution Expanding the Revolution Remembering the Revolution Teaching & Learning about the Revolution Linked from the area Writing & Printing in the Revolutionary Era are the topics: The Rhetoric of Rights: Americans are "Englishmen" and Englishmen Have Constitutional Rights Americans as Englishmen: Why would Americans attempt to break away from England by insisting they were "Englishmen?" The English Constitution: How had the English acquired their rights and priviledges? The Tory Response: What did Loyalists say in response to arguments about taxation and representation? The Evolution of the Argument Over the Course of the American Conversation Natural Law Guarantees All Human Beings Fundamental Rights Divine Law Guarantees All Human Beings Fundamental Rights Parents Have a Natural Authority Over their Children, but England has Not Behaved as a "Natural" Mother Core Arguments of the Revolution: The Model of Ancient Republics Show that Freemen Should Not Submit to Slavery "Forefathers" Earned Freedom for All Americans Colonists are Entitled to Charter Rights Given to Forefathers America is Entitled to Rights and Respect Because It Is Destined to Be Mighty

Liberty Quiz  In what song do you sing the words "sweet land of liberty"? Click here for answer When is the last time you said "with liberty and justice for all"? This may help you remember Who said "as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"? Click here for answer In what song do you sing the words "Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law"? Click here for answer

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