What is “freedom”? Is it the right to think, say and do anything? Is it the power to control where to go in life without restraint from someone or something? Is it absolute and if not who sets the limits? The word is a bit ambiguous and not as clear cut as it seems. The definition of freedom seems to change with different circumstances and even people. Freedom seems to become constrained under times of uncertainty, such as war. It has also been applied differently to different people and even denied to certain groups throughout American history. So what is “freedom”? To me, Freedom is having economic, social and physical liberty. Being able to do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t impede the freedoms of others.
One of the worst violations …show more content…
One of the most important industrialists was Andrew Carnegie, founder of Carnegie Steel. Another prominent figure of the Gilded Age was John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. These two men became some of the richest men in modern history. Even though these men possessed great wealth, they didn’t pay their non-skilled workers a living wage even though they had the ability to do so. Many workers still lived in poverty even though they worked sixty hours a week. These workers did not have economic freedom. They were “wage slaves”, working long hours for low pay with limited promotion opportunities. Author John A. Ryan believed that everyone deserved a living wage. “The right to a living wage is derived from the right to live from the bounty of the earth. The latter right acknowledged by most nations and insisted upon by Christianity.” (Ryan 81) He believed that a living wage should provide a human being with comfort and dignity. (Ryan 82) Not only does a living wage provide the latter, it also provides opportunities and consequently, freedom. The freedom to develop physically, intellectually, morally and spiritually. (Ryan 82) Ryan believed that a living wage increased freedom and that it is the obligation of the government to pass legislation to ensure everyone has a living wage. (Ryan …show more content…
This was done by means of the Espionage Act of 1917. Citizens could be imprisoned for up to twenty years if they were guilty of hindering military recruitment. Another act that violated the First Amendment was The Sedition Act of 1918. This act made it a crime to oppose the war, either in speech or writing. Violators could be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for up to twenty years. Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs was indicted and convicted under the Espionage Act in 1918 for giving an antiwar speech. Before his conviction, he gave a highly persuasive speech to the jury. During the speech, he fully admitted to giving an antiwar speech. Debs argued that some of the greatest American icons stayed true to their convictions and voiced their opinions even when they received significant opposition. “Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and their compeers were the Rebels of their day. When they began to chafe under the rule of a foreign king and to sow the seed of resistance among the colonists they were opposed by the people and denounced by the press. But they had the moral courage to be true to their convictions.” (Debs 111) Freedom of speech was of utmost importance to him and he would stop at nothing to defend his Constitutional right. “I would not under any circumstances suppress free speech. It is far more dangerous to attempt to gag the people than to allow
One of the worst violations …show more content…
One of the most important industrialists was Andrew Carnegie, founder of Carnegie Steel. Another prominent figure of the Gilded Age was John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. These two men became some of the richest men in modern history. Even though these men possessed great wealth, they didn’t pay their non-skilled workers a living wage even though they had the ability to do so. Many workers still lived in poverty even though they worked sixty hours a week. These workers did not have economic freedom. They were “wage slaves”, working long hours for low pay with limited promotion opportunities. Author John A. Ryan believed that everyone deserved a living wage. “The right to a living wage is derived from the right to live from the bounty of the earth. The latter right acknowledged by most nations and insisted upon by Christianity.” (Ryan 81) He believed that a living wage should provide a human being with comfort and dignity. (Ryan 82) Not only does a living wage provide the latter, it also provides opportunities and consequently, freedom. The freedom to develop physically, intellectually, morally and spiritually. (Ryan 82) Ryan believed that a living wage increased freedom and that it is the obligation of the government to pass legislation to ensure everyone has a living wage. (Ryan …show more content…
This was done by means of the Espionage Act of 1917. Citizens could be imprisoned for up to twenty years if they were guilty of hindering military recruitment. Another act that violated the First Amendment was The Sedition Act of 1918. This act made it a crime to oppose the war, either in speech or writing. Violators could be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for up to twenty years. Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs was indicted and convicted under the Espionage Act in 1918 for giving an antiwar speech. Before his conviction, he gave a highly persuasive speech to the jury. During the speech, he fully admitted to giving an antiwar speech. Debs argued that some of the greatest American icons stayed true to their convictions and voiced their opinions even when they received significant opposition. “Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and their compeers were the Rebels of their day. When they began to chafe under the rule of a foreign king and to sow the seed of resistance among the colonists they were opposed by the people and denounced by the press. But they had the moral courage to be true to their convictions.” (Debs 111) Freedom of speech was of utmost importance to him and he would stop at nothing to defend his Constitutional right. “I would not under any circumstances suppress free speech. It is far more dangerous to attempt to gag the people than to allow