LIBERALISM (of the 1700's-1800's)

1. Individuals are entitled to seek their freedom in the face of arbitrary or tyrannical restrictions imposed upon them.
2. Humans have certain natural rights and the role of government is to protect them. These rights include the right to OWN PROPERTY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM FROM EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, AND FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY. These rights cannot be taken away by government because the government did not give them to the people, the people were born with these rights.
3. These rights are best guaranted by a written constitution with careful definition of the limits to which governmental actions may go.
4. Free enterprise is the most productive economy and the one that allowed for the greatest measure of individual choice.
5. ECONOMIC INEQUALITY will exist and is acceptable because is does not detract from the individuals moral dignity, nor does it conflict with EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY and EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW.
 

IMPACT
Liberalism Was Involved in the Various Revolutionary Movements of the Early 19th Century.

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