The history of American political thought is a complicated one, compounding both of the nation’s separatist idealistic roots and the dark legacy of slavery. Its core principles of freedom, equality and opportunity, however, remain a consistent feature at least in the intentions of the US policy makers throughout the years. The greatest paradox of the American history lies in the nation’s dual status as a former colony and the colonial power in its own right, which contributed to the various and often contradictory ways these values have manifested in.
Ever since the establishment of Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America, the land began to be perceived as the new world. Removed from the traditions of regular society, it was tied in the public’s eyes to the ideas of new beginnings and greater opportunities. The settlers that inhabited the growing number of colonies, and then the immigrants to America in its more modern form, were aware of the associated dangers. Yet the association with new horizons and greater degree of personal freedom did not simply survive but was reflected in the country’s political image and self-perception.
When the successful revolution in colonies lead to a birth of the new nation, the commitment to the ideals of freedom was institutionalized. Both the Declaration of Independence and the first American constitution proclaimed that every person had a right for their freedoms on the American land, thus implying the equality. It is worth mentioning, that back then the perception of who was worthy of being called human was severely unequal and harmful. Nonetheless, the American ideals of opportunity for all and freedom from oppression were definitely present even at the darkest periods of the nation’s history.