Liberalism And Freedom Essay -- essays research papers fc

Liberalism and FreedomLiberalism is a force that has produced change from the birth of this republic to the politics of today. Liberal tenets adjudge been a basis of thoughtand effect in American politics since well before the signing of theConstitution. Certainly, liberalism has had to turn in order to remain alegitimate force passim the years. When considering this transformation,one whitethorn ask whether or non the ideas and goals of classical liberalism have beenlost in the conversion into groundbreaking liberalism. In order to perform this, theareas of freedom, the role of government, human nature, and the function of lawshould be addressed. While this may not be a complete register of change inliberalism, research into these subjects can provide strong indications towardthe nature of this transition. Objectively, the evidence suggests that numerous ofthe ideas of classical liberalism were either abandoned or changed fundamentallywhen America entered the modern era.Fre edom     The idea of freedom has been a paramount concern of liberalismthroughout history. Consider the classical ideas of religious freedom, the recompense to resist and the inherent right of every individual to be independent.These were some of the main focuses of classical liberalism in proto(prenominal) America.     On religious freedom, seventeenth century minister Roger Williams wrote"all(a) Civill States with their Officers of justice in theirrespectiveconstitutions and administrations are proved essentially Civill, andtherefore not judges, governours or defendours of the spirituall or christianstate and worship." (Volkomer, 50)This quote is notable because it illustrates the early liberal ideas ofreligious freedom by stating that government officials have no right to passjudgment on religious practices. In procession of his views, Williams foundeda colony at Plymouth and contributed to the development of religious tolerancein the new world. Religious tolerance meant that a nation with multiplereligions impoverishment no longer mean a country with internal dissension and civilinsurrection due to intolerance (Volkomer, 1969). The notion of religious open-mindedness helped coat the way for individual independence by suggesting thatpeople were able to destine their own fundamental beliefs.     The right of ind... ...rrelationship helpsensure liberalisms role in carry about change in the future.BibliographyAn Introduction to the Philosophy of Law young Haven Yale University Press, 1922The Relevence of Liberalism Westview Press, Boulder, CO. 1978Beiner, Ronald Whats the Matter With Liberlism? University of California Press,Los Angeles, 1992De Tocqueville, Alexis Democracy in America Penguin Books Ltd., Middlesex,England, 1984Dewey, rear end Liberalism and Social Action untried York G.P. Putnams Sons, 1935Dietze, Gottfried Liberalism Proper and Proper Liberalism, Johns HopkinsUnive rsity Press, Baltimore, 1985Dunbar, Leslie Reclaiming Liberalism, WW Norton & Co., New York, 1991Gerstle, Gary "The Protean Nature of American Liberalism", The American historical Review, October 10, 1994, American Historical Review, New York, NewYorkKotkin, Joel "Whats Wrong With Liberalism" The American Enterprise, Jan/Feb1996 Vol. 7 No. 1, The American Enterprise Institute, Washington D.C.Lewis, Edward A History Of Political Thought, The Macmillan Co., New York, 1937Mansfield, Harvey The character of Liberalism, Harvard University Press, Cambridge,1978