How did the debate between public morality and private freedom inform political debate in the 1780s?
A) The Americans who preached public morality did not believe in political debate.
B) Because public morality and private freedom are in direct contrast, they mirror the political debates of the 1780s about tyranny versus republicanism.
C) Because public morality leads to private freedom, Americans believed that British tyranny would lead to American democracy.
D) Americans defended individual rights but believed that a society without virtue couldn't preserve liberty and independence.
E) Because English colonialism had imposed public morality, Americans rejected it for private freedom.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The debate between public morality and private freedom informed political debate in the 1780s by creating a tension between individual rights and social virtues. Many Americans defended individual rights but recognized that a society without moral virtue could not preserve liberty and independence. This tension was reflected in discussions about the role of government and the balance between individual freedom and the common good. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

How Did the Debate Between Public Morality and Private Freedom