Give Me Liberty!: Volume 1

In June and July of 1788, cities across the Atlantic coast erupted in celebrations to mark the ratification of the US Constitution, featuring parades that illustrated a brief unity across social classes. These events drew participants from a variety of professions—farmers, butchers, bricklayers, lawyers, and merchants—all marching together. The prominent role of skilled artisans in these parades highlighted their new-found significance in the public sphere and demonstrated broad urban support for the Constitution––examples, the authors argue, that emphasize The Evolving Concept of American Freedom.

They explain that during the Revolutionary era, the vision of the US as a “rising empire” of liberty, championed by figures like Thomas Jefferson, captured the imagination of the new nation. This empire, already larger than Great Britain, Spain, and France combined, was expected to expand westward to the Mississippi River, promoting liberty in adherence to the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Despite challenges such as British and Spanish control of strategic locations and a diverse and largely rural population, this vision shaped the young nation’s identity and aspirations.

America Under the Confederation

Adopted during the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation were designed to maintain state sovereignty while providing a framework for mutual defense. This first national government featured a single-house Congress without the ability to tax or regulate commerce, which the authors suggest reflected fears of centralized power. Although the authors explain it managed to handle western land disputes and governance, the Articles’ limitations became apparent, particularly in their inability to generate revenue or effectively manage territory and Indigenous relations. This period underscored the need for a more robust federal system, leading to the Constitutional Convention, an event that the authors use to highlight The Impact of Social Movements and Political Conflicts on Liberty.

A New Constitution

The 1787 Constitutional Convention, which included notable figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, sought to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation by proposing a stronger federal government. The new Constitution introduced a structured government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and a bicameral Congress designed to balance the needs of large and small states. This structure, the authors explain, was meant to temper the excesses of democracy and ensure that governance remained in the hands of the capable elite, while still expanding democratic involvement through the direct election of the House of Representatives.

The Ratification Debate and the Origin of the Bill of Rights

The ratification of the US Constitution ignited a fervent debate between Federalists, who advocated for a strong central government as articulated in the Federalist Papers, and Anti-Federalists, who feared that such a government would overpower state rights and individual freedoms.

The intense public discourse led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights by James Madison, addressing concerns about protecting fundamental liberties and ensuring that the new government could not infringe upon individual rights. The authors emphasize that this addition reinforced the message that ideas of freedom and policy were intertwined; the authors make the point that this addition was crucial in securing the Constitution’s ratification and laid foundational principles for American liberty.

“We the People”

The authors state that US Constitution, introduced with “We the People,” does not define citizenship, leaving its interpretation open and varied. The document categorizes inhabitants as Indigenous, enslaved persons, and the general populace, but only the latter were fully considered part of the political community entitled to the nation’s freedoms––an important detail to reinforce the authors’ commitment to highlighting The Significance of Diverse Groups in America. The authors argue that debates over what constitutes “American identity” highlight the complexities of integrating civic and ethnic nationalism, shaping the ongoing discourse on who is considered truly American in a country that prides itself on its ideological foundations of liberty, equality, and democracy.