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{{See also|Natural Law|Unalienable rights|Self-governance}}

{{See also|Natural Law|Unalienable rights|Self-governance}}

The high level of individual freedom in the United States under the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]], as desired by the [[Founding Fathers]], was inspired by the philosophy of [[John Locke]], who promoted a [[limited government]] based on natural law.<ref>Powell, Jim (August 1, 1996). [https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/ John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property]. ''Foundation for Economic Education''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="USHistory.org">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp 2. Foundations of American Government]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="CRF-USA.org">[https://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights.html The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights]. ''Constitutional Rights Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Locke argued that all human beings have natural rights which come from [[God]] and thus are unalianable.<ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA">Byas, Steve (July 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/29439-what-is-the-fourth-of-july-really-about What Is the Fourth of July Really About?] ''The New American''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The government had an obligation to protect the people's natural rights, and if it did not, the people had the right to overthrow and replace it.<ref name="USHistory.org"/><ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA"/> While distinct from divine law, Locke believed that natural law was consistent with the former.<ref name="Tuckness2005">Tuckness, Alex (November 9, 2005). [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/ Locke’s Political Philosophy]. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Additionally, while he believed that the legislature was the most important part of the government – Locke advocated for the [[Separation of Powers]] to limit government – he still believed that the legislature still had to abide by natural law.<ref name="Tuckness2005"/>

The high level of individual freedom in the [[United States]] under the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]], as desired by the [[Founding Fathers]], was inspired by the philosophy of [[John Locke]], who promoted a [[limited government]] based on natural law.<ref>Powell, Jim (August 1, 1996). [https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/ John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property]. ''Foundation for Economic Education''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="USHistory.org">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp 2. Foundations of American Government]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="CRF-USA.org">[https://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights.html The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights]. ''Constitutional Rights Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Locke argued that all human beings have natural rights which come from [[God]] and thus are unalianable.<ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA">Byas, Steve (July 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/29439-what-is-the-fourth-of-july-really-about What Is the Fourth of July Really About?] ''The New American''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The government had an obligation to protect the people's natural rights, and if it did not, the people had the right to overthrow and replace it.<ref name="USHistory.org"/><ref name="CRF-USA.org"/><ref name="ByasTNA"/> While distinct from divine law, Locke believed that natural law was consistent with the former.<ref name="Tuckness2005">Tuckness, Alex (November 9, 2005). [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/ Locke’s Political Philosophy]. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Additionally, while he believed that the legislature was the most important part of the government – Locke advocated for the [[Separation of Powers]] to limit government – he still believed that the legislature still had to abide by natural law.<ref name="Tuckness2005"/>

In addition to Locke's ideas, expressed in his ''[[Two Treatises of Government|Second Treatise of Government]]'', the founding fathers were influenced by documents like the ''[[Magna Carta]]'', [[Petition of Right]], and the [[English Bill of Rights]], all of which limited governmental power.<ref name="USHistory.org"/>

In addition to Locke's ideas, expressed in his ''[[Two Treatises of Government|Second Treatise of Government]]'', the founding fathers were influenced by documents like the ''[[Magna Carta]]'', [[Petition of Right]], and the [[English Bill of Rights]], all of which limited governmental power.<ref name="USHistory.org"/>

The U.S. Founding Fathers themselves strongly supported individual freedom and limited government.<ref name="BoRI">[https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/founders-quotes/ Founders’ Quotes on Founding Principles]. ''Bill of Rights Institute''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Bleau, Hannah (July 4, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/04/13-patriotic-quotes-from-americas-founding-fathers/ 13 Patriotic Quotes from America’s Founding Fathers]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 4, 2019.</ref> Their experience with the tyrannical British government made them distrustful of a powerful government, and their resolve to not repeat this experience is reflected in the U.S. Constitution and [[Bill of Rights]].<ref name="Best">Best, James D. [http://www.whatwouldthefoundersthink.com/the-founders-believed-in-limited-government The Founders Believed in Limited Government]. ''What Would the Founders Think''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> For example, the Constitution goes to great lengths to mandate the separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights further limits government power to protect individual rights.<ref name="Best"/><ref>Pilon, Roger (July 21, 1995). [https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/founders-intended-only-limited-powers Founders Intended Only Limited Powers]. ''CATO Institute'' (from ''USA Today''). Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/3a.asp 3a. The Founders and Federalism]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Beeman, Richard R. [https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/white-pages/the-constitutional-convention-of-1787-a-revolution-in-government The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Revolution in Government]. ''Constitution Center''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2c.asp 2c. Creating the Constitution]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2d.asp 2d. The Bill of Rights]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The founders also emphasized the importance of property rights.<ref name="BoRI"/><ref>Snowball, Timothy (July 11, 2019). [https://pacificlegal.org/the-founding-fathers-of-our-limited-government-george-washington-and-the-importance-of-property-rights/ The Founding Fathers of our limited government: George Washington and the importance of property rights]. ''Pacific Legal Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Many of the founding fathers warned Americans to stay vigilant against trends that erode individual freedom, including the growth of bureaucracy, violation of the separation of powers, and judicial supremacy.<ref>[https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/strong-warnings-from-the-founders Strong Warnings from the Founders]. ''National Center for Constitutional Studies''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref>

The U.S. Founding Fathers themselves strongly supported individual freedom and limited government.<ref name="BoRI">[https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/founders-quotes/ Founders’ Quotes on Founding Principles]. ''Bill of Rights Institute''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Bleau, Hannah (July 4, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/04/13-patriotic-quotes-from-americas-founding-fathers/ 13 Patriotic Quotes from America’s Founding Fathers]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 4, 2019.</ref> Their experience with the tyrannical British government made them distrustful of a powerful government, and their resolve to not repeat this experience is reflected in the U.S. Constitution and [[Bill of Rights]].<ref name="Best">Best, James D. [http://www.whatwouldthefoundersthink.com/the-founders-believed-in-limited-government The Founders Believed in Limited Government]. ''What Would the Founders Think''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> For example, the Constitution goes to great lengths to mandate the separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights further limits government power to protect individual rights.<ref name="Best"/><ref>Pilon, Roger (July 21, 1995). [https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/founders-intended-only-limited-powers Founders Intended Only Limited Powers]. ''CATO Institute'' (from ''USA Today''). Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/3a.asp 3a. The Founders and Federalism]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Beeman, Richard R. [https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/white-pages/the-constitutional-convention-of-1787-a-revolution-in-government The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Revolution in Government]. ''Constitution Center''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2c.asp 2c. Creating the Constitution]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2d.asp 2d. The Bill of Rights]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The founders also emphasized the importance of property rights.<ref name="BoRI"/><ref>Snowball, Timothy (July 11, 2019). [https://pacificlegal.org/the-founding-fathers-of-our-limited-government-george-washington-and-the-importance-of-property-rights/ The Founding Fathers of our limited government: George Washington and the importance of property rights]. ''Pacific Legal Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Many of the founding fathers warned Americans to stay vigilant against trends that erode individual freedom, including the growth of bureaucracy, violation of the separation of powers, and judicial supremacy.<ref>[https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/strong-warnings-from-the-founders Strong Warnings from the Founders]. ''National Center for Constitutional Studies''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref>

Additionally, the [[founding fathers]] of the [[United States]] cared deeply about preserving national sovereignty, since a sovereign U.S. government would serve the American people alone and protect their [[unalienable rights]], and let them govern themselves.<ref name="Groves2010">Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). [https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-does-sovereignty-matter-america Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America?] ''The Heritage Foundation''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In fact, they chose to declare independence because [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was not respecting their right to self-government.<ref name="Groves2010"/> For example, in [[George Washington's Farewell Address|his farewell address]] in September 1796, [[George Washington]] warned his fellow Americans against becoming entangled in international treaties and alliances, as he knew it would end American freedom.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp Washington's Farewell Address 1796]. ''The Avalon Project -- Yale Law School''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21/pdf/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21.pdf Washington's Farewell Address]. ''Government Publishing Office''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref>

Additionally, the founding fathers of the United States cared deeply about preserving national sovereignty, since a sovereign U.S. government would serve the American people alone and protect their unalienable rights, and let them govern themselves.<ref name="Groves2010">Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). [https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-does-sovereignty-matter-america Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America?] ''The Heritage Foundation''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In fact, they chose to declare independence because [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was not respecting their right to self-government.<ref name="Groves2010"/> For example, in [[George Washington's Farewell Address|his farewell address]] in September 1796, [[George Washington]] warned his fellow Americans against becoming entangled in international treaties and alliances, as he knew it would end American freedom.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp Washington's Farewell Address 1796]. ''The Avalon Project -- Yale Law School''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21/pdf/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21.pdf Washington's Farewell Address]. ''Government Publishing Office''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref>

==Examples of the War on Freedom==

==Examples of the War on Freedom==