Essay on Webster's View: Equal Distribution of Land Property Leads to More Freedom

1. Why does Webster consider an equal distribution of landed property more important to freedom that liberty to the press, trial by jury, and other rights?

According to Webster, equal distribution of landed property opens many opportunities to equality, freedom of the press, trial by jury and other rights, including. When there is equality in the distribution of land, people can qualify to access other rights. Webster believes that acquiring of land property is difficult compared to other rights. Therefore, when one has land, they can easily acquire freedom of the press, trial and other rights. At the same time, power increases directly with the proportion of the property that one has. American citizens believe that equality means equal property rather than equal conditions; therefore, the property is the basis of power. Freedom of the press is considered less of importance compared to landed property. Hence, equitable distribution of marks the beginning of national liberty.

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When a landed property is distributed equally, it can eliminate the economic classes in the society, and the rich are unable to exploit the poor. Unlike when there is a division of people according to their economic class, there is more room for exploitation, and people's rights can be easily oppressed. Equal distribution ensures that the body of the people is maintained as the mark of balance between wealth and power. The property also defined the voting rights of people in the republic; hence they can choose leaders without any form of intimidation. Landed property, on the other hand, ensures that people have the power that will never restrict them from the right to trial by jury and freedom of the press. Therefore, equal distribution of land is the fundamental of liberty and other rights and when it's not exercised, liberty expires and power departs from the people.

2. Why does Webster believe the republican institutions of the United States will survive indefinitely?

Webster believes that the entrenched republican institutions of the United States of America will survive for the foreseeable future because of the general and energetic nature of the forces of freedom. Their freedom is deep-rooted and he believes that I may take a while for anyone who may want to overturn them to do so. The institutions have unwavering and constant support from people and every time there are setbacks, these forces of freedom provide the power and energy to revert their foundations.

Webster believes that Americans have more privileges, unlike other nations that are still struggling with a monarch and aristocracies. He gives a historical context of the English men and how they have progressed over time concluding that even with the accumulation of property, there was an increase in power vested in the people.

Another reason is a strong form of government that gives people more opportunities to own a property and appropriate power to protect their properties. This way, the people will defend their country indefinitely; that is, even though they may not want to fight for their country, they will definitely be willing to fight for the protection of their properties, therefore, accomplishing the indirect mission. Additionally, the ownership given to the people is set to diminish after all as generations go by, the properties will be inherited to siblings and those after them until the ownership returns to the government.

Bibliography

Webster, Noah. An examination into the leading principles of the federal constitution Philadelphia. 1787, pp. 114 -117.