Activities

1. Reading an Interpretation of Liberty and Drawing Conclusions

Henry George, a noted 19th-century social philosopher and economist, had this to say concerning liberty:

We honor Liberty in name and in form. We set up her statues and sound her praises. But we have not fully trusted her. And with our growth so grow her demands. She will have no half service!

Liberty! It is a word to conjure with, not to vex the air in empty boastings. For Liberty means Justice, and Justice is the natural law—the law of health and symmetry and strength, of fraternity and cooperation.

They who look upon Liberty as having accomplished her mission when she has abolished hereditary privileges and given men the ballot, who think of her as having no further relations to the everyday affairs of life, have not seen her real grandeur…

We speak of Liberty as one thing, and of virtue, wealth, knowledge, invention, national strength and national independence as other things. But of all these Liberty is the source, the mother, the necessary condition... Where Liberty rises, there virtue grows, wealth increases, knowledge expands, invention multiplies human powers. . . Where Liberty sinks, there virtue fades, wealth diminishes, knowledge is forgotten, invention ceases, and empires once mighty in arms and arts become a helpless prey to freer barbarians...

Shall we not trust her?

Liberty calls to us again. We must follow her further; we must trust her fully. Either we must wholly accept her or she will not stay… Either this, or Liberty withdraws her light! Either this, or darkness comes on and the very forces that progress has evolved turn to powers that work destruction. This is the universal law.

After you have read the selection, please answer the following questions:

  1. Give some examples where we sound the praises of liberty and set up statues in her name.
  2. How accurate is Henry George in what is stated in paragraph four?
  3. In what ways does liberty call us again?
  4. According to the reading, what do you think is the author's definition of liberty?
  5. After having discussed Jefferson and his concepts of liberty, how do you think it compares with that of George?
  6. In what ways do we not trust liberty?
  7. How would Alexander Hamilton probably have reacted to the above selection?

2. Expressing An Opinion

Many issues dealing with liberty and freedom are not always clear cut, as Americans have had to balance these ideals with the good of society. In this exercise, your opinion on certain issues is requested. The line below represents a continuum between total control and absolute liberty. Read each of the following problems and decide whether your answer would be for total control, absolute liberty, or something between those two points. Place the letter preceding the problem at the appropriate place on the line.

a. A newspaper has received from another country information very damaging to the United States. Should the newspaper be allowed to print this information?
b. A homeowner refuses to rent an apartment to a homosexual. Should he have the right to discriminate?
c. The Board of Education removes several books from the school library because members of the Board believe the books to be anti-Semitic and racist. What degree of control should they have?
d. A pro-Nazi group wants permission to march in an all-Jewish neighborhood. Should they be permitted to march?
e. In order to get certain jobs, it is necessary to join a union. Should a union have the power to prevent someone from gaining employment?
f. A qualified teacher, who is a racist, applies for a position. Should there be laws preventing racists from teaching?

3. Analyzing an Important Doctrine: The Bill of Rights

Thomas Jefferson was one of the strong voices, along with Tom Paine, who felt that a Bill of Rights had to be amended to the Constitution. Once the Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states, the first ten amendments were added -- the Bill of Rights. Below are several issues that relate directly to the Bill of Rights. With the use of a copy of the Constitution, tell which amendment relates to each topic below.

  1. An individual refuses to salute the American flag, on religious grounds.
  2. A policeman stops a car and starts searching it for stolen weapons.
  3. An individual, accused of robbing a store, is let out on bail.
  4. A person is jailed but not told what the charges against him are.
  5. A newspaper is prevented from printing a story Board critical of the President.
  6. An individual on trial is forced to take the stand and testify against himself.
  7. A hunter has, in his home, several rifles used only for hunting.
  8. A murder is committed and the person accused is tried in a regular jury trial without the case having gone to a grand jury.
  9. A member of a minority party is prevented from making a speech.
  10. A suspected murderer was tried by a jury and declared innocent. New evidence has come to light and he is tried again.

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