In honor of U.S. Independence Day,here are America's founding documents, important writings from the past, and modern assessments of the state of liberty. For those of you within the United States, we wish you a happy Fourth of July. For those outside the U.S., we hope that you'll join us for a celebration of freedom.
1- Declaration of Independence
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With this document, rebellious American colonists declared their independence from the British government and announced plans to create a new and free nation. (07/04/1776)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/374903553.html
2- Articles of Confederation
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The first governing document for the newly independent
United States.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/526078968.html
3- United States Constitution
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The text of the current governing document of the
United States of America, including all amendments.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/9014790.html
4- Federalist papers
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Arguments penned by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
and James Madison in favor of the adoption of the
Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.
(1787-1789)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/234866583.html
5- Anti-federalist papers
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Arguments against the proposed Constitution, arguing
that it provided for too centralized a government and
contained the seeds of tyranny.
(1787-1789)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/523598643.html
6- The war inevitable
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by Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry's "Liberty or Death" speech to
the 1775 Virginia Convention. (03/23/1775)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/10282424.html
7- Common Sense
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by Thomas Paine
Full text of the book that inspired the
Declaration of Independence and fueled the
American revolution. (1776)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/989194437.html
8- The Rights of Man
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by Thomas Paine
Paine's defense of individual liberty. As always,
Paine is quick to make valuable suggestions for
proper government.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/8481874.html
9- The papers of Thomas Jefferson
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The collected writings of the often-libertarian
author of the Declaration of Independence.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/520708203.html
10- Brief biography: John Locke (1632-1704)
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John Locke's influence on modern views of liberty
is profound, including providing much of the
philosophical influence for the American Revolution.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/823862104.html
11- Democracy in America
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by Alexis de Tocqueville
The full text of the classic 19th-century analysis by
an observant French aristocrat of the culture and people of the American republic and the potential threat to liberty posed by too much democracy.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/266647317.html
12- Founding Fathers info
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Founding Fathers
The one-stop site for any history buff looking for
a convenient archive of historical documents, articles,
essays, books and more. Also, great links, quotes and
research resources.
http://www.free-market.net/rd/4425785.html
13- Is the Spirit of '76 Dead?
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Rational Review
by R. Lee Wrights
"Let's face it: if you have to ask permission to do something you are not free. And yet, Americans don't seem to be particularly bothered by having to ask for state-sanctioned permission to do every little thing." (07/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/864039006.html
14- The worship of government
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Hawaii Reporter
by Rex Curry
"Does every pledge of allegiance establish a religion -- the worship of government?" (07/01/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/441348698.html
15- Americans celebrate Dependence Day
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Lew Rockwell.com
by Butler Shaffer
"[A]sk yourself how -- if at all -- you intend to spend July 4th. Will it be in celebration of your independence, or submission to a condition of dependence?" (07/01/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/464080961.html
16- The first revolution led by small businessmen
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Small Business Survival Committee
by Darrell McKigney
"There is no question that the free-market, consumer-oriented experience of the founding generation was a major contributing factor in building a successful democratic government."
(06/27/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/581911291.html
17- July 4th
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Empower America
by Jack Kemp
"As we celebrate the 226th anniversary of our beloved
Declaration of Independence, it is remarkable to reflect on the fact that America has survived wars hot and cold, a civil war and a second peaceful revolution to ensure equal rights to blacks and women as well as instances of rascality in government..." (7/02/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/562791673.html
18- July Forth!
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The Libertarian Enterprise
by L. Neil Smith
"I don't know whether you've noticed it or not, but
everybody who was pretending to be in charge of America the day before September 11, 2001, is still pretending to be in charge. The difference is that they have more money to play with, and a hell of a lot more power over our lives." (07/02)
http://www.free-market.net/rd/210047303.html