Question

How did new ideas of liberty contribute to tensions between the social classes in the american colonies?

Answer 1

The ideas of liberty that were emerging during the Enlightenment were, by definition, threatening to social classes. This is because liberty and individual rights came hand in hand. Freedom prioritized the individual against the community. Moreover, the defense of freedom generally came together with the defense of equality. The more equality people enjoyed, the less differences we could find between social classes, which represented a threat to the upper classes and increased tensions between these different groups.

Answer 2

The ideas leveled up not only on their rights and privileges as a citizen. The ideology was understood as a national concern. Through a basic understanding of their own rights, the realization of the issue was associated as a concern of all as a nation that strives to have a decent living. They saw the connection between social classes concern is related. Thus, the ideas of liberty awakened nationalism among the American colonies.