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The Philosophy Of The Declaration Of Independence

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Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been fought for, has evolved, and has been the basis of American lives. According to the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Foner, 197). Benjamin Franklin’s famous writing became the normative view of what freedom ought to be. What should be the definition of freedom; however, differs from the realistic view of freedom. In this essay, different interpretations of liberty by important American figures will be examined in conjunction with the modern definition of freedom. What is the definition of freedom to a person that is born free? To have a better understanding of freedom, one should consider what happens when certain freedoms are taken away. If the Catholic religion were to be banned within American soil, the right of religious of expression is stripped from someone who is Catholic. If an individual who cherishes the profession in art is dictated by government to pursue an education and career in Nursing, the right to make decision is taken away from the individual. If an individual openly speaks negatively about their government and is imprisoned and punished for it, their freedom of speech is taken away. In short, liberty is the ability of an individual to act within their

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