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Assignment 3 ESSAY COMPLETE

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“James Madison and Republican Statesmanship:

https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/james-madison-and-republican-statesmanship-part-
vi-the-problem-of-civic-virtue/

Answer the following question from the above article with your partner. Use complete sentences
and single-space:

1. What was Madison’s position on civic virtue? Do you agree with him?

He believed that it was up to us to check the government and ourselves as a society under
the constitution. I agree with him because if this wasn’t the case then the government could
easily give itself too much power.

2. To do on your own: Write an essay of no less than 800 words on the concept of civil liberty,
including what it was, how it impacted the creation of American government, and how this is
currently applies to American society, government, and you personally (where you must use
personal pronouns like “I).” Every film and reading in the required materials below must be
cited in your text using either Chicago, MLA, or APA. (Information does NOT necessarily
need to be quoted, but every time you use information/ideas you took from each source, your
work should be cited). Do not use any sources outside of those provided below. Do not erase or
condense this page. Essay should be written in complete sentences, using good writing skills.
This page is already formatted for Times New Roman 12 point font and double-spacing below.
Please access the NW Academic Honesty policy for information about plagiarism. Violating the
policy and use of AI will be addressed.

Required materials:

https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/james-madison-and-republican-statesmanship-part-
vi-the-problem-of-civic-virtue/
Make sure to access the complete article (read the full report)

https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/resource/understanding-democracy-hip-pocket-guide/
virtue-civic/

https://www.nas.org/blogs/article/civic_virtue_and_western_civilization

https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2020/05/01/are-we-forgetting-the-role-of-civic-virtues/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/jimmy-carter-set-virtuous-example-115120232.html

Begin essay here:


Civil Liberty a Societal Impact

Civil liberties are the fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected from

interference from the government. This concept has been studied intensely and is understood to

be essential to any functioning society. Civil liberties that are given to the U.S. citizens are

outlined in the bill of rights. Some of these liberties include the freedom of religion, the press,

and speech. The expansion of civil liberty since the concept was created helped the founding

fathers build the constitution that we believe will, and has so far, stand against the test of time.

From their origins to modern day examples civil liberties impact individual lives on a daily basis.

This essay explores some of the historical foundations of civil liberties, how they evolved, and

how they affect daily life, including specific examples that could impact me personally.

Ideas of civil liberties can be traced back to the ancient Greek civilization with Aristotle.

Aristotle came up with the idea of four main virtues that any virtuous citizen should follow.

These virtues include temperance, prudence, fortitude, and justice. (Annenberg ¶ 2) One of the

first instances of civil liberty in the modern era came from the formation of the magna carta in

1215. This English document was the first to limit the power of the monarchy allowing for

citizens to have the right to a fair trial like we do in the U.S. today. Philosophers such as John

Locke and Jean-Jacques Rosseau argued for the idea of natural rights in which every man should

be given based on his natural humanity. This idea laid a foundation for many governments of the

future including our own. This heavily influenced the creation of our bill of rights which was

ratified in 1971. These fundamental rights are key to the functioning of our American democracy.

Over time the understanding and application of civil liberty has changed. Our founding

fathers thought that this would be the case and allowed the amending of our constitution. During

the 19th and 20th centuries many social movements have been made working towards these
liberties being extended to previously minoritized groups. One example of this is the abolition of

slavery following the civil war passing the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The 14th amendment

in particular introduced the concept of “equal protection under the law” which is now a large

cornerstone of civil liberty in our country. However, with these amendments spreading these

liberties to African Americans, women are still missing some rights they should have. This

caused the woman’s suffrage movement to begin culminating the creation of the 19th amendment

allowing them the right to vote. After this the civil rights movement of the 1960’s worked for the

desegregation of our country, specifically in the education system. The main focus of this

movement was to counteract the Jim Crow laws. This caused the case Brown v. The Board of

Education (1954) which declared the segregation of schools unconstitutional.

Civil liberty still has large impacts on day-to-day life since daily life since they safeguard

personal freedoms and promote justice within society. For instance, the First Amendment

guarantees the right to free speech, enabling individuals to express their opinions, whether

through social media, public demonstrations, or artistic endeavors. This freedom encourages a

vibrant exchange of ideas and promotes societal progress. Moreover, civil liberties are crucial in

ensuring that individuals can participate in the democratic process. The right to vote, protected

under various amendments, empowers citizens to influence government policies and hold elected

officials accountable. Social movements continue to fight for the expansion of these rights,

advocating for issues such as voting accessibility and criminal justice reform, demonstrating that

the struggle for civil liberties is ongoing and dynamic.

In conclusion, civil liberties serve as the backbone of American democracy, rooted in a

rich historical context that has evolved through centuries of social change. From the Magna

Carta to the Bill of Rights and the ongoing fight for equality, these fundamental rights shape
individual experiences and societal norms. Understanding and protecting civil liberties is

essential for ensuring that all citizens can fully engage in the democratic process and enjoy the

freedoms that form the cornerstone of our society. As we reflect on the past and navigate the

present, it is vital to remain vigilant in advocating for the rights that empower us all.

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