- What are the expected rewards of the declared independence and do they match the vision of America Freneau's American Liberty?

Question

We have to compare the vision of America Philip Freneau's created in his poem American Liberty with the rewards of Independance

Answer 1

In Philip Freneau’s poem American Liberty, the vision of America is framed around the ideals of freedom, equality, and the triumph of liberty over tyranny. Freneau's America is one where citizens are free from oppressive rule, able to govern themselves, and where the natural world is unspoiled by the corruption of foreign domination. The poem imagines an America as a land of opportunity, prosperity, and individual rights, reflecting the revolutionary ideals that motivated the quest for independence.

Rewards of Independence:

The rewards of independence, as they unfolded after the American Revolution, were both tangible and ideological. The immediate rewards were political sovereignty and freedom from British rule, which allowed the newly formed nation to establish its own government, draft the Constitution, and define its national identity. Independence also brought economic freedom, as America could now control its own trade policies, manage its resources, and develop its economy without British interference.

However, the long-term rewards proved to be more complex. While independence gave rise to a democratic republic with a system of checks and balances, the reality of governance was more challenging than the ideal. There were struggles with economic instability, political division, and the legacy of slavery, which contradicted the vision of freedom and equality Freneau celebrated in his poem.

Comparing Freneau’s Vision with Reality:

1. Freedom and Self-Government: Freneau's vision of America is a nation where liberty reigns, free from tyrannical rule. The reward of independence certainly matched this vision in the sense that America achieved freedom from British rule and established a system of self-government through the creation of a republic. However, the reality was more complex, as political disagreements and challenges to unity arose. The establishment of a functional government, as seen in the Articles of Confederation and later the Constitution, revealed the difficulties of translating abstract ideals into concrete practice.
2. Prosperity and Opportunity: Freneau imagines a land of natural beauty and abundance, where people can thrive. Post-independence, America indeed saw economic growth, particularly after gaining control over trade and resources. However, this prosperity was not equally distributed. Many groups, especially Native Americans, African slaves, and women, did not benefit from the rewards of independence, contradicting Freneau's ideal of a free and equal society.
3. Equality: In Freneau's vision, American liberty is deeply connected to the idea of equality. Yet, the reality of independence did not immediately deliver on this promise. Slavery remained entrenched, and many people, especially enslaved African Americans and women, continued to be denied their basic rights. The vision of an egalitarian society would not come to fruition for many more decades, as seen in the struggles leading to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement.
4. Moral and Social Justice: Freneau’s poem presents liberty as a moral victory over tyranny and oppression. While independence liberated the colonies from British control, it did not immediately eradicate internal injustices, such as slavery, which continued to thrive in the southern states. This gap between idealism and reality suggests that while independence provided the framework for freedom, it would take much longer to address the social and moral challenges inherent in the nation's foundation.

Conclusion:

In summary, the rewards of independence partially align with Freneau’s vision of an America defined by liberty and opportunity. The new nation gained freedom from external tyranny and laid the groundwork for self-governance and prosperity. However, the vision of an entirely free and equal society, as described in Freneau's poem, was not fully realized in the aftermath of independence. The challenges of slavery, inequality, and political division showed that the promise of liberty was still an ideal to be fully realized in the nation's future.