Proclaiming Liberty: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence.

The article reviews *Proclaiming Liberty: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence* by Timothy Sandefur, focusing on Sandefur’s argument that classical liberalism, particularly a libertarian interpretation of natural law, was the primary philosophical force behind the Americ...

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Publicado en:Reason Papers Vol. 46; pp. 42 - 50
Autor principal: Farber, Daniel A.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Reason Papers Summer2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        au: Farber, Daniel A.
        affil: University of California, Berkeley
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        Liberalism
        Natural law
        Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
        Founding Fathers of the United States
        Adams, John, 1735-1826
        Colonial United States, ca. 1600-1775
        Libertarianism
        American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
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        subj:
          Liberalism
          Natural law
          Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
          Founding Fathers of the United States
          Adams, John, 1735-1826
          Colonial United States, ca. 1600-1775
          Libertarianism
          American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
      ab: The article reviews *Proclaiming Liberty: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence* by Timothy Sandefur, focusing on Sandefur’s argument that classical liberalism, particularly a libertarian interpretation of natural law, was the primary philosophical force behind the American Revolution. The book highlights the role of the Continental Congress in establishing new governments and challenges the notion that the Declaration of Independence marked a sudden break from British rule, portraying it instead as a formalization of existing realities. While the work offers valuable insights into Revolutionary-era rhetoric and constitutional ideas, it is critiqued for its polemical tone, reductionist portrayal of historical figures, and an overly rigid interpretation of intellectual motivations. The review suggests the book functions more as a normative legal argument supporting libertarian ideals than as a comprehensive historical analysis.
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    language: English
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