ISIL Freedom Network: Global > Introductions and FAQs > American Founding Fathers and Freedom in History

The Misunderstood Mr. Jefferson
Source: Liberty Unbound
Author: David N. Mayer
Country: United States

Jefferson biographer David N. Mayer answers Jefferson's latest wave of critics, both conservative and liberal.

Magna Carta
Source: Internet Medieval Source Book
Country: United States

"The Great Charter of English Liberty," granted by King John in 1215.

Grover Cleveland: Could He Be Elected Today?
Source: Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Author: Lawrence W. Reed
City: Midland, State: MI, Country: United States

Cleveland was a president of principle--honest, pro-capitalism--a political freak. Given the cultural and political climate of today, it shouldn't be too hard to answer the question posed by the title. (1996)

Columbus Day: A Time to Celebrate
Source: Ayn Rand Institute
Author: Michael S. Berliner
Country: United States

An answer to the PC vilification of our great discoverer.

George Washington's Farewell Address
Source: Institute for American Liberty
Author: George Washington, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
Country: United States

Though written in the overly dry, self-effacing language that was all the rage in late 18th-century American political speechmaking, this speech contains some real gems. (Just a thought: How would you like it if your dad wore a wig and had wooden teeth?)

Thoughts on Government
Source: Institute for American Liberty
Author: John Adams
Country: United States

The most influential pamphlet in the early Constitution-making period.

Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death!
Source: Liberty Online
Author: Patrick Henry
Country: United States

The title says it all.

Emancipation Proclamation
Source: LibertyOnline
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Country: United States

Lincoln's most famous act, setting free slaves who lived in territories controlled by the South (but not the North!). Hardly a libertarian, Lincoln had his moments.

The Gettysburg Address
Source: LibertyOnline
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Country: United States

Perhaps the Civil War could have been avoided, but then we would not have this speech to read. Lincoln is second only to Jefferson in the presidential writing department. Great quotes here on the importance of making sacrifices for liberty.

William Penn, America's First Great Champion for Liberty and Peace
Source: The Religious Society of Friends
Author: Jim Powell
Country: United States

An interesting biographical essay that originally appeared in The Freeman, here made available by the Quakers.

The Americans Who Risked Everything
Source: Rush Limbaugh Hometown Page
Author: Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr.
City: Cape Girardeau, State: MO, Country: United States

An elegant essay on the circumstances of the men who signed the American Declaration of Independence. It honors those who risked and lost much for freedom.

The American Lenin
Source: Lever Action
Author: L. Neil Smith
Country: United States

Was Honest Abe the prototype of the modern statist? You decide.

American Sphinx, The Character of Thomas Jefferson
Source: Liberty Journal
Author: Kelley L. Ross, Ph.D.
Country: United States

Review of Joseph J. Ellis' book.

Private initiative and discovery throughout history
Source: LibertyStory
Author: Jim Powell
Country: United States

Language, mathematics, geography, science -- these and other kinds of knowledge originated in markets and were diffused around the globe by private initiative.

Liberty as a woman
Source: LibertyStory
Author: Jim Powell
Country: United States

Throughout history, liberty has been depicted as a woman, on coins, in engravings, paintings, statues and more.

Why did liberty originate and develop furthest in the west?
Source: LibertyStory
Author: Jim Powell
Country: United States

Powell offers five developments that separated occident from orient in the progress of liberty.

Profile: Marconi, the wireless pioneer
Source: BBC
Author: Helen Briggs
Country: Italy

A brief description of the story of Guiseppe Marconi, the man who created commercial wireless communication -– by both scientific and entrepreneurial talent. "When Marconi was born, in 1874, long distance communication was only possible by telegraph and telephones linked by wires. By the time of his death, global wireless communication was a reality." (12/11/01)

The levelers: Libertarian revolutionaries
Source: Advocates for Self-Government
Author: Nick Elliott
Country: United Kingdom

Interesting article on the levelers, from the Freeman, May 1989.

To recommend changes in this directory, e-mail isil@isil.org.

	Search WWW Search ISIL