How Did American Ideals Of Liberty And Freedom Changed After The Declaration Of Independence

Niamh O'Hara
American History 7-3

American ideals of liberty and freedom have changed as America advanced and became a nation. The Declaration of independence was one of the founding documents that defined liberty and freedom at the start of America's new government. The Gettysburg Address was spoken by President Lincoln near the end of the Civil War which redefined what liberty and freedom meant in America. These definitions had to be changed after the Civil War because of secession and slavery. The time periods dictate the interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg address and what they meant to define liberty as. Both documents directly state that "all men are created equal". The Declaration of Independence was written during a time where slavery was normal and excepted by society. When
stated in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal", it applies to white men only because of the social hierarchy.
As times advanced and the Civil War became focused on the topic of slavery, the definition of liberty and freedom for the North changed tremendously. Lincoln meant all men, black or white were given rights as citizens in America when he stated, "...conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." This definition had to be changed as there became recognition in the United States of how morally wrong slavery was. In the Declaration of Independence it states, "--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such forms, as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happiness." This means whenever the people under a government feel they aren't being given their rights, or liberty and freedom, they have the right to leave and create a new government that provides them with their ideals of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This statement was written when King George III was in control of the colonies and the people of America disagreed with his reign of tyranny. The people felt this proclamation was necessary when revolting against a tyrant. Leading up to the Civil War, some Southern states seceded because they disagreed with the North's views on the abolition of slavery and they felt they no longer had a voice in government. Lincoln says in his Address, "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." He means the Civil War tested the unity of America. He redefined the idea of liberty and independence in America in the Gettysburg Address by asserting the notion that it is not necessary to revolt against a government in which you have representation and a voice. America revolted against Great Britain because they were stripped of their rights and they were under tyrannical reign, while the South had representation in a democracy and it was unnecessary to secede. Lincoln wanted to promote the idea that a voice in government was possible for all with out secession. Throughout American history, the interpretation of what liberty and freedom meant evolved as society did. The Declaration of Independence defined Liberty as equality, but equality during that time period meant opportunity for white men only. As times changed, debates on secession and slavery advanced and these definitions were expanded by President Lincoln particularly in the Gettysburg Address. He defined equality as a right for both blacks and whites. He also addressed the topic of secession noting that in the 1600's the right to create a new government whenever the populace felt threatened was necessary because of the absence of democracy, whereas the South did not have a right to interpret the Declaration of Independence as a way to secede because they were already represented.