On July 4, 1776, the United States was born not just as a nation, but as an idea. It was the first country truly born of liberalism: a political philosophy rooted in individual rights, limited government, and the rule of law. Today, it is often said that America faces a “democracy crisis,” yet our electoral institutions, for now, remain uncorrupted. Indeed, the vast majority of eligible Americans have access to the ballot box. What the country is truly encountering is a liberalism crisis.

Liberalism, properly understood, is not a partisan label or a synonym for any particular party platform. It is the political framework that emerged from the Enlightenment in the 18th century and is based on the premise that people are born with natural rights — rights that the government does not grant and therefore cannot take away. Instead, the government exists to protect these rights, even against the will of a democratic majority. It demands institutional checks on power to maximize the freedom of individuals. Because, as our founders knew, individual rights........

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