How Has Liberty Changed Over Time

Liberty can be defined as an individual’s power or right to act, think, or speak. We are lucky to grow up in a world where we have just that. We have so many liberties and freedoms where we can express ourselves and ultimately be who we want to be without government interference. Well, not everyone has always been this lucky. When it came to the colonial and new nation time period not every person, of every race, or gender, or religious belief were granted and allowed to experience the same amount of liberties. For a long period of time in our history, an individual’s privileges and liberties relied directly on their religious beliefs, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds. War, battle, death, all had to take place along with the making of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and later the amendments before every individual was able to get treated as equals and then be granted the same liberties.
When we look at history, we see that liberties were the birthright of Englishmen. You were either born into greatness, power, wealth, or you were not. Land was the basis of English settlers liberties and freedoms. So if you were one of the unlucky ones, and you happen to be a slave or servant because of the color of your skin, you had far less liberty than those white property owning men. Slaves …show more content…
And through the religious revival movement, known as the Great Awakening. The Toleration Acts also played into ones religious liberties. It grew from the King being able to control everyone, what he said went. He was above the law and you were not allowed to doubt him, contradict, or think twice about it. And then, where only persons of certain religious beliefs could hold office, and worship freely. And now where we have that freedom of religion where we can worship whom we want without worrying about being prosecuted for doing