"Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (or "liberty, equality, fraternity") was actually one of the several mottos of the French Revolution and became the official principle of the Constitution of the French Republic in 1848. The principle of liberty essentially means freedom, specifically the freedom to do anything that doesn't cause...
See This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
"Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (or "liberty, equality, fraternity") was actually one of the several mottos of the French Revolution and became the official principle of the Constitution of the French Republic in 1848. The principle of liberty essentially means freedom, specifically the freedom to do anything that doesn't cause any harm to others.
The principle of liberty was also added to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which stated that each man has the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." In modern politics, liberty means to be free from societal control and oppressive governments. In modern America, the principle of liberty and civil rights guarantee and protect the freedoms of the people.
Yet liberty has different meanings in several political ideologies. For example, in liberalism, liberty and equality go hand in hand. In libertarianism, liberty is of utmost importance, being understood as individual political and economic freedom.