Today marks 242 years since the 4th of July, 1776, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the thirteen American colonies which established the first United States of America.
For every liberal, this anniversary is of particular importance, as it is the first systematic implementation of the ideas of Locke and Montesquieu indicating a state that would have limited jurisdiction, with a clear institutional recognition of individual rights and freedoms.
An ongoing effort, as proven by an entire century as well as a civil war that needed to happen before slavery was abolished in all the states.
The American Revolution is of particular importance to Greece as well, as it was a significant source of inspiration for Greece’s struggle for independence. The close relations between the two peoples stood out with the correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and Adamantios Korais, in which the two men exchanged ideas and proposals for the establishment of freedom in the independent Greek state.
The same sympathy between the two nations in the name of their common struggle for freedom is expressed by Dionysios Solomos on the 22nd stanza of the Hymn to Liberty: “Heartily pleased and affected / was the Washington’s free land / and the chains had recollected / that detained her on remand”.
With the hope that the ideals and principals that inspired the American Revolution will continue to inspire every struggle for freedom around the world, KEFiM celebrates today’s anniversary.
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