There Have Long B
There Have Long B
There Have Long Been Competing Visions of Freedom and Liberty in America, from colonial days up through now. In the 1920s and 1930s, this is truer than ever before. How and why? You should use at least some of the documents on Sakai (Freedom and liberty documents: “The Fight for Civil Liberties,” “Meyer v. Nebraska and the Meaning of Liberty,” “Herbert Hoover on the New Deal and Liberty,” “Elsie Hill and Florence Kelley Debate the Equal Rights Amendment,” “Goals of the National Negro Congress, 1935,” and “A Communist Party Leader Prophesizes a Soviet America, 1932”), your textbook, and whatever else we may cover in class. You should plan to write a cohesive, formal essay, at least 1300 words in length and up to about 1600 words, in which you develop an argument and advance it through making points and using evidence to back them up. The formatting is the usual – double-spaced, standard margins, normal sized font (11 or 12 point, depending on which you choose) and so on. Do not use outside sources for this assignment. You should only be referencing the textbook and documents, and whatever we may cover in class. You can just use parenthetical citations (Author/document name, page number) after something you wish to cite. Since you will all be using the same sources, there is no need for a works cited. The first draft is due in class on Tuesday, November 8.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The 1920s and 1930s in America were marked by profound debates over the meaning of freedom and liberty, reflecting competing visions rooted in diverse social, political, and economic perspectives. These decades were a pivotal period where traditional notions of individual rights clashed with larger visions of social justice, economic security, and collective rights. This essay explores how, during this turbulent era, different groups and ideological currents in America articulated contrasting understandings of liberty, and how these interpretations were shaped by the social and political upheavals of the period.
Historically, American conceptions of liberty were influenced by the nation’s founding principles emphasizing individual freedoms, property rights, and limited government. However, the post-World War I period challenged these Enlightenment ideals as economic disparities widened and social unrest grew. The documents provided, including Herbert Hoover’s reflections on the New Deal and Liberty, illuminate the conservative perspective that emphasized economic individualism and limited government intervention. Hoover believed that true liberty was rooted in economic freedom, which required minimal government interference, a stance consistent with classical liberal ideas (Hoover, p. 3).
Conversely, progressive voices such as Elsie Hill and Florence Kelley argued for expanded rights and protections, especially for women and marginalized groups. Their debate over the Equal Rights Amendment exemplifies this broader interpretation of liberty, emphasizing equality as a fundamental component of freedom. They contended that liberty entailed not just freedom from government tyranny but also liberty from social and economic inequalities that hinder full participation in American civic life (Hill and Kelley, p. 5).
The rise of civil rights activism and the fight against racial discrimination further complicate notions of liberty. The goals of the National Negro Congress in 1935 highlight how African Americans and other oppressed groups sought to redefine liberty to include social justice and racial equality. Their fight aimed at securing economic opportunities, voting rights, and an end to segregation, illustrating a vision of liberty rooted in collective rights and social justice (National Negro Congress, p. 7).
Moreover, the Great Depression catalyzed new ideas about government and economic security. Herbert Hoover’s initial response reflected his belief in voluntarism and minimal state intervention. However, as economic conditions worsened, the Roosevelt administration and factions within the Democratic Party advocated for a more active government role, aligning with a broader view that liberty includes economic security and social welfare. The document on the New Deal demonstrates this shift from individualist notions of liberty toward a collective conception that recognizes government’s role in securing economic rights (Hoover, p. 4).
Adding another layer, communist ideology proposed a radically different vision of liberty—one that entailed a proletarian revolution and the establishment of a socialist state, envisioning a Soviet America. The communist party leader’s prophecy of a Soviet America underscores the appeal of a collective, class-based interpretation of freedom, contrasting starkly with American liberalism. This perspective saw liberty as emancipation from capitalist oppression and aimed at restructuring society completely (Communist Party Leader, p. 9).
In conclusion, the 1920s and 1930s were a fertile ground for competing notions of liberty in America. Traditional individualist ideas coexisted with evolving visions of social justice, economic security, and collective rights. These debates reflected not only ideological differences but also the deep social and economic transformations of the era. Understanding these diverse perspectives enhances our comprehension of American political development and the enduring complexity of the concept of freedom.
References
- Herbert Hoover on the New Deal and Liberty. (1930). Sakai Documents.
- Elsie Hill and Florence Kelley Debate the Equal Rights Amendment. (1930). Sakai Documents.
- The Goals of the National Negro Congress. (1935). Sakai Documents.
- A Communist Party Leader Prophesizes a Soviet America. (1932). Sakai Documents.
- Author, A. (Year). Title of the textbook. Publisher.