7. How may we protect ourselves against these dangers?
8. Where does this liberty that we enjoy come from? Who grants it?
A. In what particular ways does the Constitution of the United States guarantee liberty?
B. What forms of government existed before the United States? What liberties did the people of Russia, or France, or England enjoy in 1600?
C. Who really possesses the power of government in the United States?
D. How is the liberty of the individual protected in the United States?
E. In what ways were the people of Massachusetts in 1650 not as free as we are to-day?
F. What does it mean when we say "all men are created equal"?
G. Discuss the real meaning of the right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".
"I hope to see the time when every American citizen will have an unfettered start and an equal chance in the race of life."--Abraham Lincoln
A Week in a Land Where There Is No Liberty
The Spirit Of Democracy Developed Under The Constitution Of Our Country
It is not sufficient that we shall know what government is and where it is. We must also understand its nature. It is the proud boast of America that it is a democracy, the first real democracy in the world. Now what is meant by a democracy? We hear much about democracy, and we hear much about republicanism, and many people when they hear or see these terms think that it has to do with the Democratic or Republican political party. We must not be confused. We must see and think clearly. Democracy and republicanism, as we use the terms in these talks, have no reference to any political party, but relate solely to the form of government under which we live.
America is a democracy. It is also a republic, as we shall see in our next talk. It is very important that we shall understand why it is a democracy, and why it is also a republic, and the distinction between the two.
It has been well said that republicanism in government "refers rather to the form of government", and that democracy refers to the "spirit of government". In government as with the people the spirit is the real, important thing. In a democracy the people govern. "A government of the people, by the people, and for the people", as Lincoln expressed it, is a democracy. In a democracy no man is the master of another man without his consent. In a democracy there are no slaves. In a democracy each and all have equal rights. Every one in a democracy has an equal opportunity with every other person.(16)