Liberty in the United States during the late 19th century - Essay Example

Liberty in the United s During the Late 19th Century Liberty from a contemporary point of view can be defined as feeling of equal rights and as such, liberals advance philosophical arguments as democracy, human rights, freedom to choice to religion, capitalism, and constitutionalism. Liberalism become evident around 18th Century widely accepted as classical liberalism and later rejuvenated around 20th century popularly advancing social liberalism (Emma Goldman 123). Around 19th century, liberty advanced the enlightenment age rejecting a number of government pioneered assumptions including established religion and monarchy.

Great philosophical liberal thinkers like John Locke fought for the rule of law, and that individuals had a basic right to life and liberty. Patriotism from a contemporary point of view makes citizens of a nation to neglect their self-worthiness, become irrelevant by their own acceptance and be compliant to governments and their country (Emma Goldman 145). The thesis of this paper therefore is that American patriotism has downplayed the American liberty, abandoning principles and beliefs on which the country had been founded in the 19th century.

Patriotism and LibertyPatriotism; a great menace to liberty. Several theories and arguments have been advanced by various scholars to unravel patriotism, “…….it is more like superstition, one not quite far from inhuman acts and brutal.” Leo Tolstoy defines patriotism “…..as principle that tends to justify the making of a whole nation of murderers.” In justifying these statements, Goldman (1917) argues that patriotism is a created artificial force that is maintained through host of lies; it is a system that tends to rob citizens of their dignity while promoting their level of ignorance.

This is a complete opposite of what the revolutionary liberty. (Emma Goldman)Law and LibertyLaw, Denial to liberty. As a formal court proceeding put it in 1927, “……Law performs all that is required when it can do all that it can…..”(Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200). This was by then the classical argument advanced in the Supreme Court in Virginia at a determination case when a court order was given for the operation concerning salpingectomy. Giving such a ruling, the court emphasized that it was potentially probable that the offspring would have been afflicted and thus a case detrimental to her own health and that of general society, thus sterilization considered as an option.

This is a case of law being applied to determine the lives of individuals, perhaps one would ask if liberty holds the same principles for people.Immigration Act and LibertyAct intended to limit the migration of people to the US. The U.S Immigration Act (1924) sec.11 states that “……..there such be 2 per centum forming the total number of individuals of foreign origin residing in the United States” contrary to popular philosophical liberty advancements, the 19th century formed a basis that advanced communism and restricted human movement at the expense of their own will.

ConclusionIt is clear therefore that happenings around 19th century formed a basis for liberty in America. As the practices suggest, actions that are more progressive were necessary for a liberal nation as advanced by John Locke in the 19th century.Work CitedBUCK v. BELL, 274 U.S. 200. No. 292. U.S. Supreme Court. 1927.Emma Goldman. "Patriotism: a Menace to Liberty." Anarchism and Other Essays (1917): 9.Works CitedBUCK v. BELL, 274 U.S. 200. No. 292. U.S. Supreme Court. 1927.Emma Goldman. "Patriotism: a Menace to Liberty.

" Anarchism and Other Essays (1917): 9.