"[Individualism involves] the right of the individual to freedom and self-realization”
-Ellen Meiksins Wood, American Marxist historian
American individualism
Individualism is the moral, political, ideological, and social outlook that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual, as opposed to the collective worth of the community or the state. Goals of individualists include promoting the achievement of one’s goals, self-reliance, and advocacy for the rights of individuals over the rights of government. Some philosophies in opposition to individualism would be communism, totalitarianism, and any movements that emphasize the importance of maintaining control and leadership instead of protecting the rights of individuals.
From the start, America has been a nation founded by individuals, for the sake of preserving individual liberty. The Preamble to our Constitution reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (United). The opening words of America’s first documents, themselves, point out how deeply the United States Founding Fathers were committed to the value and worth of the individual.
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician in the late 1600s, became an influential Enlightenment thinker, and is commonly known as the “Father of Liberalism” (Hao). His writings influenced such famous thinkers as Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and, most pertinently, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. America’s foundation in the 18th century was truly revolutionary—it was the first modern liberal state of its kind, without monarchy or and hereditary aristocracy. In fact, the American Declaration of Independence echo John Locke’s words almost verbatim: “all men are created equal…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (United).
The American Experiment was certainly founded on individualist principles, and this humanist spirit continued through the centuries of the United States’ existence.
Philosophers like Lysander Spooner perpetuated this spirit. A 19th century individualist anarchist, Spooner supported the labor movement, which called for greater respect of, and rights for, the American working class. He opposed slavery on a moral and legal basis, even penning a lengthy work entitled “The Unconstitutionality of Slavery.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s towering intellect and unique transcendentalist philosophy secure his place in the history of American individualism. Moving away from the religious and social beliefs of his contemporaries, he struck out on his own and began expressing the philosophy of transcendentalism through alternative sources like nature. His 1837 speech entitled “the American Scholar” has even been labeled as America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence” (Koch).
These two thinkers embody the spirit of American individualism—independent, thoughtful, proud, confident, and innovative—but they by no means contain it. Modern artists, philosophers, scholars, politicians, and private individuals all color the tapestry of the American way of life.
In this portion of the museum, discover some of the rich history of individualism in the United States of America.
From the start, America has been a nation founded by individuals, for the sake of preserving individual liberty. The Preamble to our Constitution reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (United). The opening words of America’s first documents, themselves, point out how deeply the United States Founding Fathers were committed to the value and worth of the individual.
John Locke was an English philosopher and physician in the late 1600s, became an influential Enlightenment thinker, and is commonly known as the “Father of Liberalism” (Hao). His writings influenced such famous thinkers as Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and, most pertinently, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. America’s foundation in the 18th century was truly revolutionary—it was the first modern liberal state of its kind, without monarchy or and hereditary aristocracy. In fact, the American Declaration of Independence echo John Locke’s words almost verbatim: “all men are created equal…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (United).
The American Experiment was certainly founded on individualist principles, and this humanist spirit continued through the centuries of the United States’ existence.
Philosophers like Lysander Spooner perpetuated this spirit. A 19th century individualist anarchist, Spooner supported the labor movement, which called for greater respect of, and rights for, the American working class. He opposed slavery on a moral and legal basis, even penning a lengthy work entitled “The Unconstitutionality of Slavery.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s towering intellect and unique transcendentalist philosophy secure his place in the history of American individualism. Moving away from the religious and social beliefs of his contemporaries, he struck out on his own and began expressing the philosophy of transcendentalism through alternative sources like nature. His 1837 speech entitled “the American Scholar” has even been labeled as America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence” (Koch).
These two thinkers embody the spirit of American individualism—independent, thoughtful, proud, confident, and innovative—but they by no means contain it. Modern artists, philosophers, scholars, politicians, and private individuals all color the tapestry of the American way of life.
In this portion of the museum, discover some of the rich history of individualism in the United States of America.