The United States of America is and has always been very close to realizing democracy’s ideal of a country where there is “liberty and justice for all”, though a number of factors have conspired to move the country away from them in the past, and threaten to do so in our immediate future. Though their outcomes have varied considerably over the years, the main factors causing the U.S to stray from its ideals of freedom and equality have always been one or both of the following factors—discrimination and war. These factors are perennial, affecting every nation that has ever existed and probably every nation that will exist, and our nation’s reaction to them has been on par with that of every other nation in a similar position. From …show more content…
One such factor is war. During World War I, the Espionage Act of 1917 was used to jail prominent critics of American intervention in the war—among them, Eugene V. Debs, four-time presidential candidate (Ball, 146). Shortly after the war ended, A. Mitchell Palmer used the powers granted by the act to conduct mass arrests and deportation of hundreds of foreign residents (Emert, 54, 55, 56). During World War II, the federal government forcibly relocated thousands of Japanese Americans into what were essentially concentration camps (Cooper, 10, 11). The Japanese internment was implemented in the name of combating a virtually non-existent military threat, for fear that Americans of Japanese descent might aid the Empire of Japan (Cooper, 63). After the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon and the declaration of the War on Terror, the USA PATRIOT Act was hurriedly conceived and passed into law (Ball, 38). Included in the law were provisions for roving wiretaps, the sharing of information between criminal probes and intelligence agencies and secret searches of private property in violation of the Constitution (Ball, 57, 74, 81). War has always been a major contributor to the detriment of civil liberties in all nations, and
Freedom forms the essential basis for prosperity. Freedom allows us to innovate, develop, and expand into horizons previously believed to be impossible. A free society is the crucial foundation on which America has been able to flourish, and the foundations underlying this society are vital to its continued success. The economic, political, and moral elements of a free society are all equal in importance, and, together, they form the basis on which we, as the American people, are able to thrive.
America is the universal symbol of freedom. But is it really free? Does the history of the United States stay true to the ideas of our forefathers? Or has the definition been altered to fit American policies? Has freedom defined America? Or has America defined freedom? I believe America was at first defined by freedom, then after time, America defined freedom, altering the definition to fit the niche it fits in, but still keeping key components so it still seems to be staying true to the ideas of America’s founding fathers.
thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably assemble, and to petition
The way the Americans gained independence may not be as valiant as it seems. The war lacked just war criteria despite many arguments. The idea was foolish and unnecessary and proved the lack of development amongst this young territory. Many factors lead to this premature uprising and the French and Indian War is a great reason for most of those factors. The decision by the American colonists to revolt against British rule was premature and overly aggressive.
Many individuals came to America picturing the land of the free, where they would be able to relish in benefits economic opportunity, worship as the pleased, and have equality. These individuals were running away from the order that their native country was suffering in search for a better future. Progressive America offered an opportunity and promise of getting exactly what they desperately looked for which was freedom .Cities made way to what people came to know as mass consumption that become the meaning of freedom for society in that era. It wasn’t uncommon for the American life to be considered as the commonalities of goods accessible in other countries.
America’s entrance into World War I led to the passage of the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918, laws that blatantly violated the First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech. These laws limited criticism of the government, its leaders, and policies by fining and imprisoning those who
When United States was founded, it was signified as the most progressive and political movement in Western Civilization, which has continued to change and form from all the racial, ethnic, and religious diversities within society. Through the freedom that was first generated from the separation of the church and state to the manifestation of the Constitution on December 15, 1791, it has changed the course of history forever. The expression of the people’s legal rights was the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was adopted and later put into action in the 17th century. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...” This bill gave people a chance to express their boundless desires, simple freedoms and more notably religious actions in America. American Christianity has deteriorating moral standards and blindly accepts everything within society.
The United States has been known as the “Land of the Free,” “Land of the brave,” and many more other referral words that make it a great nation. It is known from history as the land where everyone is welcome and can make great life. The history of the United States is profound with its rise to the top as the country that is most powerful after the fall of European giants. The opportunities that the land offered to its settlers have continued to be felt till date. But of importance is the freedom from tyranny that America offers its citizens. Culminated in the Constitution is the fact that the country takes seriously individual liberty and this can be seen through important events in the past (Farber & Sherry,
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable – a most sacred right – a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world” (Charters, 2014, Inspiring Quotes, pg. 1). America was founded on the backs of people who had the ability to stand up and fight for freedom and a new found government. There were many aspects that brought the development of American freedom as it exists today. However, American freedom is not what it used to be. “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves,”
Americans have never accepted being told what to do. They do not tolerate dictatorship and the limiting of their freedom. In 1919, an American freedom was taken. When the government began regulating the consumption of alcohol (Prohibition), they created one of the largest internal rebellions that Americans have ever participated in. Alongside the battle that had previously existed for racial equality, women are still on the hunt for total equality. Females of all ages and backgrounds are still fighting for the same opportunities that are presented to males. Future struggles are to be anticipated to these battles that have displayed the fire within Americans and how they refuse to conform to beliefs that they do not
Advancing freedom worldwide is a long held priority of the United States. As such, America prides itself as a role model to other nations by serving as a symbol of the merits of freedom and equal rights. An example of this came in 1945 after the collapse of the Nazi empire. During this time, the city of Berlin was split into East and West Berlin.
“The secret to happiness is freedom...” (Thucydides). Now imagine being robbed of that freedom, can happiness still exist? The novel The Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley develops a plot that examines the role of freedom in association with fabricated happiness. The author highlights an image of what a “perfect society” should look like in order to govern what is believed to be conformity, and peace at the expense of an individual’s freedom.
One of the best things about America is the freedom we are allowed to have. Of all of our rights, our most important three are life, liberty, and property. John Locke, a philosopher from England said,” This law of nature requires that no one should harm another in his natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He is saying that we have the right to life, a right to liberty, which means we have our own say in things. We also have the right to property, which means we can own a house, a car, and anything our heart desires. These are only a sliver of the rights we have as an American citizen.
actions of the government. In the history of the United States, the American commitment to
Intelligence Agency (CIA) for years. In fact, he is wanted for much more than this most