American Political Thought Essay Research Paper The — страница 4

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Anti-Federalists agreed on. They both believed that liberty and the protection of rights is the proper ends of government. The only legitimate source of political authority is consent. The only proper form of government was republican. That a republican government should be limited by a constitution and finally there should be a union among the states. Looking at these ideas it seems to me most are the foundation of American Liberalism, because not only do they lean towards the Classical Liberal , but the also share similarities with the Progressive Liberal . The main thing that Puritans, Federalists and Anti-Federalists have in common is that they are American. Now that I ve stated the obvious let me explain how they all contribute in different way to the ideology of American

political thought. The Puritans Theology forced them to think a certain way. They wanted to like in a virtuous society, but they needed to live a life that would be successful so that they could discover that they were one of the elect. They wished everyone would worship as they did; however their religion shunned such force. They gave us the notions of toleration for all people and an ambition to live the good life. The Federalists gave us our big government, and with that they gave us free commerce, freedom from tyranny, they gave us the notion that all men are created equal. No matter where you come from or who you are you ll have the same freedom to make anything you want of yourself. The Anti-Federalist gave us what the Federalists left out. They gave us our rights, defined

them and said that no matter what; no one could take these rights away. They gave us the power over the government; they made sure that we were able to govern ourselves and they gave us one of the most precious gifts we have, freedom of speech. It always goes back to the saying, that I will stand there and listen to a man insult me and degrade my ideas while expressing his opinion, for the freedom to express my own. I think it is amazing that all these different ideas came together at once to create this fabulous nation and a very unique way of understanding liberty and freedom all under a theory of American Liberalism.