America’s Founding Father’s View On Liberty (Liberty Lite)
Liberty Lite: Exploring the differences and similarities between liberty and freedom
My fellow Patriots,
Our Founding Fathers were very vocal in what they intended for liberty in America.
In continuance with the series, Liberty Lite, we are going to look at what the founding fathers of America thought about liberty and freedom. Especially for those who are American citizens, this article matters to you because the founding fathers understanding of liberty affected how they formed this country, from the Declaration of Independence to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Let us look at Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence as well as the third president of the United States. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson writes “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Later on Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to a man named Amos Cook, wrote “Without virtue, happiness cannot be.” When comparing what Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence to his letter to Amos Cook, it is clear that he believed that liberty involves virtue and cannot be an anarchic idea.
What about Benjamin Franklin, another famous founding father; what are his thoughts on liberty? In 1789, in a document titled An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin writes,
“If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself.”
Benjamin Franklin is also seen echoing the same sentiment as Thomas Jefferson; there is a component of liberty that requires virtue and treating people with respect. Anarchic, do-whatever-you-want freedom is actually condemned by Benjamin Franklin.
Let us take a look at one more founding father: Samuel Adams, the cousin of John Adams and founder of the Sons of Liberty. In a letter to John Scollay in 1776, Samuel Adams writes,
“Revelation assures us that “Righteousness exalteth a Nation” – Communities are dealt with in this World by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general Character. The diminution of publick Virtue is usually attended with that of publick Happiness, and the publick Liberty will not long survive the total Extinction of Morals.”
Samuel Adams makes an appeal to God in his letter to point out the absolute necessity for morality in the public, if liberty is to survive. Again, this echos the thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and many other of America’s founding fathers.
When looking at what America’s founding fathers said about liberty, in their day, it is clear that anarchy is not liberty; that morality and virtue are the bedrock of liberty, as well as happiness. This understanding of liberty echos what the Bible says about liberty, which is discussed in my last article of Liberty Lite. When going forward with your life, whether you love liberty or hate it, whether you love morality or despise it; understand that both the Bible and America’s founding fathers placed utmost importance on morality to the survival and flourishing of liberty.