Freedom: America's Greatest Lie The bells of freedom and independence have become symbols of America's patriotic nature. Our precious country was founded on these universal principles which have become “inalienable rights” of our Constitution. Freedom is more than the ability to express oneself: it is a manifestation of individualism, creative thinking, and the innate desire to think freely and innovate. Although Americans cherish their fundamental right to freedom, the definition of freedom has seen drastic changes in American history and has been manipulated to deny freedom to various groups of people. Freedom is an American quality that changes depending on the social conditions of the time. From the birth of American freedom during the colonial period, to the disenfranchisement and enslavement of millions of African Americans, to the cry for economic freedom in the 20th century, freedom is a multi-faceted quality that has caused ruptures in American history. it was born in America as a retaliation for the oppression of Great Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, Britain sought to tighten control over its colonies after a period of abandonment and loneliness. Britain now wanted to take every advantage it could from colonial America with heavy taxes and unjust laws, including the Stamp Act, navigation laws, and the Intolerable Acts. The cry “taxation without representation” that rang throughout the thirteen colonies was a call for freedom; this allowed rebellious sentiment to ferment and spread like wildfire. The Revolutionary War was a manifestation of the age-old desire for freedom. This break with Great Britain brought colonial America into a new era as a nation, The union... middle of paper... between Republicans and Democrats often limits our expression of freedom. Finally, freedom now represents the quality of life and security available to all Americans. This quality of life is determined by several factors, including, but not limited to: equal opportunity for all to receive an education, adequate healthcare and safety. Freedom, therefore, continually changes as society continues to evolve. Historian Mark Bloch once said, “The idea of ​​freedom is one in which each era reshapes itself as it pleases” (Loss). As time passes and social conditions change, Americans will have to fight for their cherished value of freedom and define it accordingly. Freedom is an American quality that has generated considerable debate, more than any other in history. Freedom, by far, is America's defining value, and it has changed along with America.