Liberty means freedom to make your own choices and live your life without unnecessary control from others. When you have liberty, you can think what you want, say what you believe, and pursue your own goals, as long as you don't harm others or break just laws.

The word carries weight in American history. The Founding Fathers built the United States on the idea that people possess natural liberties that governments shouldn't take away: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to gather peacefully. The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor holds her torch high as a symbol of these freedoms, welcoming people seeking liberty in America.

Liberty differs from simply doing whatever you want. True liberty exists within a society where everyone's freedoms are protected. Your liberty to play loud music late at night bumps up against your neighbor's liberty to sleep peacefully. A free society constantly balances these liberties so everyone can flourish.

People throughout history have fought and sacrificed for liberty. Some liberties you enjoy today, like the freedom to attend the school of your choice or speak your mind without fear, came because others believed liberty mattered more than their own safety. When you hear the phrase “liberty and justice for all” in the Pledge of Allegiance, it expresses the ideal that every person deserves these fundamental freedoms.