Who Is the Author of Liberty? A Patriotic Reflection

Introduction

Hello, Americans – this July 4th, Independence Day (2025), we ask: Who truly is the “Author of Liberty”?

Is liberty authored by divine Providence, the Founding Fathers, our shared cultural traditions, or everyday citizens carrying freedom forward?

Liberty in America has always been a chorus of voices. From the hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” which refers to our “fathers’ God…Author of liberty,” (i.e. God of our fathers) to the Declaration of Independence’s claim that our rights are endowed by our “Creator,” acknowledging faith and freedom have intertwined in our national story.

These founding hymns and documents remind us that liberty is more than a political construct – it’s a spiritual and moral inheritance.

Yet today, liberty lives in humble acts: a teacher explaining civic responsibility, volunteers voting in a local election, neighbors offering support. Our communities continue to write the ever-growing story of American freedom.

This July 4, 2025, let’s reflect on all its authors: divine inspiration, visionary statesmen, cultural voices, and everyday patriots.

As we listen to the anthem and read our charter, we also feel the pulse of a living democracy – shaped by each of us.

As fireworks burst across the July 4th sky, Americans celebrate the enduring gift of liberty. As we know that fireworks have been a hallmark of Independence Day since 1777, but amid the celebration lies a deeper question: Who is the author of liberty?

In our history and hymnody, Americans have credited both human effort and divine guidance. The patriotic hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” penned by Baptist minister Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, proclaims, “Our fathers’ God… Author of liberty” americanminute.com.

This Independence Day 2025, let us reflect on liberty’s deep roots:

– Is freedom the product of visionary leadership or sacred insight?
– A cultural inheritance or a living tradition?
– And above all, what does it mean to protect and honor that freedom today?

Historical Foundations of Liberty

The Founders embedded liberty at the very heart of America’s founding. The Declaration of Independence famously asserts:

“All men are created equal” and are “Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” archives.gov.

These enduring words clarify that liberty wasn’t granted by any monarch – it was recognized as a natural right.

Later, the Constitution’s Preamble reaffirmed this conviction: our government was established “To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” constitution.congress.gov.

In essence, our Union’s purpose is to protect freedom across generations.

But the Founders understood that liberty demands more than elegant words – it requires sacrifice and virtue. As John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail in 1777:

“Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it” whitehouse.gov.

Then and now, patriots risked – and some gave – their lives so America could rule itself. Acknowledging their courage reminds us that freedom has a profound history and a real price. By honoring their sacrifice, we recognize the debt that sustains our nation’s liberty.

Providence and the Moral Foundation

Beyond legal charters, many Founders believed liberty had a deeper moral and spiritual dimension – one shaped by a higher power. George Washington, America’s first president, frequently acknowledged this unseen guidance.

In his celebrated letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport (1790), he praised “The power and goodness of the Almighty” for blessing the success of the “Revolution” and the establishment of our government jewishpress.com.

This reflects a broader belief in Providence – the idea that God cares for and guides human affairs. Such language was common among America’s founders, who often spoke of divine oversight rather than mere chance.

Washington also stressed that liberty depends on virtue. In his First Inaugural Address (April 1789), he declared that the foundation of government must be “The pure and immutable principles of private morality,” warning that “The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty… is deeply staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people” gilderlehrman.org.

In other words, a free society rests on citizens of strong character and high moral standards.

Washington and other early leaders regularly invoked both God and virtue, urging citizens to live honestly, pursue justice, and serve the common good. He hoped that “The propitious smiles of Heaven” would favor a nation that honored “The eternal rules of order and right” gilderlehrman.org.

Today, many Americans still find inspiration in that blend of faith, character, and civic responsibility.

This moral groundwork – acknowledging both divine care and personal virtue – remains a powerful strand in our patriotic tradition and a reminder that liberty must be nurtured, not taken for granted.

Guardians of Freedom: Our Duty Today

If the Founders drew the blueprint, each generation becomes its caretaker – preserving liberty is neither automatic nor passive; it requires active stewardship.

On this Independence Day, we remember that Americans of diverse backgrounds have united in gratitude for freedom.

In 1790, the Hebrew congregation at Newport, Rhode Island, offered thanks “To the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men” for “All the blessings of civil and religious liberty” enjoyed under equal government tourosynagogue.org.

Their words – alongside our national motto, “In God We Trust”– echo a humble belief that liberty carries a divine dimension and that gratitude unifies communities.

At the same time, the pledge for “One nation, indivisible” reminds us that justice and unity remain the bedrock of our shared values.

Today, each citizen can honor liberty by living its ideals:

• Engage in democracy – vote, volunteer, and stay informed as essential duties of freedom.
• Bridge differences – embody E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one”) by practicing mutual respect and civic unity.
• Raise gratitude and service – acknowledge that rights come with responsibility toward others and future generations.

By caring for our communities, teaching the next generation civic virtues, and respecting the rule of law, we keep the flame of liberty burning. In doing so, we honor the debt owed to those who forged freedom and to the ideals that inspired them.

Reflection and Gratitude

So, who truly is the “Author of Liberty”?

In one sense, we the people – through our Constitution, our votes, and our willingness to govern ourselves – carry that legacy forward.

In another sense, it is the Founding Fathers who first inscribed our rights into history with their pens and deeds.

Yet many Americans also believe that the truest source of liberty originates in a “Creator” or higher moral order, one that grants each person dignity and rights.

As President Washington noted, our nation was both guided by an “Invisible hand” and shaped by human will. Whether through sacrificial labor, prayer, or courage, Providence and perseverance both hold a place in our history.

This July 4th, let us unite in reflection and gratitude. We honor the patriots of the Revolution and the framers of our Constitution for their courage and foresight.

We also give thanks for each other – every citizen who upholds liberty through daily acts of service and respect. And we remember the moral foundation that undergirds our freedoms.

May the principles of justice, unity, and Providence continue to illuminate our land. As the hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” prays:

“Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light.” therochestervoice.com

Conclusion: Claiming Our Role in Liberty’s Story

As we’ve seen, liberty in America has many authors:

• The Founders, who framed our rights and formed a lasting republic.
• Divine Providence, which Washington and others invoked as guiding our national destiny.
• Cultural traditions, like the hymn “My Country, ’Tis of Thee”, declaring, “Our fathers’ God…Author of liberty…With freedom’s holy light.”
• Citizens of every era, who actively steward liberty through civic engagement, moral virtue, and community.

So today, who is the author of liberty?

The answer: We all are. By voting, serving, teaching, praying, and caring for one another, each generation continues to write freedom’s unfolding chapter.

This July 4^th – and every day – let us honor those who came before and embrace our part in the story.

May justice, unity, virtue, and gratitude light the way forward, sustaining a liberty that remains truly authored by the people – and guided by a higher moral purpose.

Sources: Founding documents and leaders’ words (Declaration of Independence archives.gov, U.S. Constitutionconstitution.congress.gov, George Washington and John Adams whitehouse.govpatheos.comgilderlehrman.orggilderlehrman.org, etc.) help us remember that liberty springs from both human endeavor and a moral foundation of Providence.

Happy 4^th

Disclaimer

The views and interpretations presented in this article – “Who Is the Author of Liberty? A Patriotic Reflection” – are those of the author and do not reflect any official position of government entities, religious organizations, or educational institutions.

This piece is provided for educational and reflective purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers should verify historical quotations and facts independently. 

By reading and engaging with this article, readers acknowledge that interpretations of history, faith, and civic duty may vary. The author is not liable for individual actions taken as a result of this content, nor does the article constitute professional advice.