Letter from the Editors
There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.
It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
The second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise.
James Madison, Federalist 10
Madison’s Federalist 10 is deeply concerned with disagreement and faction among the colonies. Faction could tear the new nation apart before it was even truly together. But Madison also acknowledged that anything that could be done to force universal agreement would be worse than the problem it was trying to solve. Dissension and disruption are built into the American project, and always have been. Madison’s hope was that a system that was strong enough and flexible enough would endure, regardless.
This month’s pair of lead essays both focus on dissension and disruption. Glenn Moots considers the Declaration as a formal declaration of war rather than, or in addition to, a declaration of independence. Jacob Levy looks at the ways in which current political disruptions may arise from the founding principles contained in the Declaration. Both essays serve to remind readers of the conflicts that underlie and were inspired by the radical acts that took place 250 years ago. Will Hay’s reflection on selections from the Jack Greene pamphlet collection considers some works by British pamphleteers desperately trying to calm some of this discord and keep the colonies attached to England.
This Month's Further Reading and Listening
After the disruptions discussed in our two lead essays, enjoy the harmony of a performance Longfellows’ “Concord Hymn.” We also offer a pair of intriguing podcasts and a review of Jane Calvert’s Penman of the Founding, as well as a link to our ever-growing collection of important pamphlets from the Revolutionary Era.
Countdown to the Declaration
New material every month as we explore the Declaration's past, present, and future.
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Education
Educational Experience and the Challenge to Empire
What in the Founders’ education prepared them to be able to craft the Declaration? To what degree did it challenge the ideals of empire?
Liberty and Tyranny
Conditions of Revolution: Sic Sometimes Tyrannis
What sustains liberty? Does the Declaration offer a model for future political resistance to tyrants?
War & Peace
Declaring War—and Loyalty
The Declaration did not just declare American independence, but implicitly declared war on England. What happens to the voices of loyalists in the shadow of the revolution?
Law & Constitutionalism
Constitutional Tourism: Australia’s America
What is the constitutional importance of the Declaration of Independence?
Philosophy and Theology
Men Will Be Men: Religious and Enlightenment Ideas in the Declaration
Shifts in our prevailing philosophies and theologies seem to make the Declaration’s ideals little more than a pleasant fiction. Is the Declaration's ideal of lasting importance for religious and philosophical thinkers?
War & Peace
War: The Dreaded Enemy of Liberty
The American Revolution and subsequent constitution of the newly-formed United States reflected some of the key ideas of liberalism—natural rights, government by consent, and limits on state power. Can war be contained by liberal ideals?
Find the full list of months, including archived and upcoming themes, on our Countdown page.
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Liberty Fund offers a rich set of educational programs. These include Socratic-style conferences, thought-provoking books, and engaging online resources focused on the understanding and appreciation of the complex nature of a free and responsible society.