Libertarianism (Feat. Works Cited Page)

The term “libertarian” was first used by Enlightenment-era free-thinkers to refer to the metaphysical belief in free will, as opposed to determinism. During the 18th century, classical liberal ideas flourished in Europe and North America. Libertarians of various schools were influenced by classical liberal ideas. It came to mean an advocate or defender of liberty, especially in political and social spheres, as early as 1796. Although the term continues to be widely used to refer to socialists internationally, its meaning in the United States has deviated slightly from its political origins. Libertarianism in the United States developed in the 1950s, as many with "Old Right" or classical liberal beliefs in the United States began to describe themselves as libertarians. Libertarianism in the United States has been described as conservative on economic issues and liberal on social issues such as personal freedom. It’s often associated with a foreign policy of non-interventionism. Since the resurgence of neoliberalism in the 1970s, free-market capitalist libertarianism has spread beyond North America via think tanks and political parties. Today, libertarianism is America’s third largest political party.
Libertarianism centers around the recognition of free-will, independence, and the American heritage of liberty, enterprise, and personal responsibility. Libertarians recognize the responsibility all Americans share to preserve this heritage for all generations to come. Libertarians believe that being free and independent is a great way to live. They want a system which encourages all people to choose what they want from life; that lets them live, love, work, play, and dream their own way. The Libertarian way is a caring, people-centered approach to politics. They believe each individual is unique and want a system which respects the individual and encourages us to discover the best within ourselves and develop our full potential.
The Libertarian way is a logically...