Freedom+and+Equality


 * Freedom and equality **

Freedom is at the centre of all that Americans value. This includes political freedom, freedom of speech, religious freedom, economic, freedom and personal freedom. Americans like to think of their country as a welcoming haven for immigrants longing for freedom and better life. They also regard their society as the freest in the world. This understanding of freedom goes back to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights some years later. It is based on the principle that freedom is and individual right, and that the role of the government is primarily to protect the rights of the people.