“We do not make history; we are made by history.” This historical quote by Martin Luther King truly defines the origins of the world––especially America. America has become the center of the world––politically, economically and socially. Despite its origin only being some less than four hundred years ago, it has surpassed ancient civilizations and empires to become the world’s greatest superpower. The secret of this advancement does not lie in its geography or resources, but in its foundations and upbringing. From the Enlightenment Era, different philosophers laid out the foundations for today’s democracies: John Locke founded the values of a social contract with the government; Jean Jacques Rousseau established the idea of rebelling against a long-standing government; …show more content…
Finally, in a populous colony of Britain, these ideas were embraced and put into practical use. After growing tired of oppressive British rule, the American colonies sought for answers to act against this tyranny. They chose to use enlightenment ideals to justify their opposition and continued the values as they started establishing a country. The ideals created the foundations of America. Although these Enlightenment ideals were important to their foundations, the upbringing of the country is mainly reflected in the ideas and society that correctly describe the values of it. The upbringing for such a great development and rich history in a country lies in its people and its values that laid out America to be what it is today. The most commended opportunity in America is freedom. However, there are divisions regarding the basis for freedom. While some might view freedom as the absence of foreign or outside power that controls, others view it as the power or right to act,