Radical Whig Ideology

The radical Whig movement began with the writings of two individuals. John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon were outspoken members of the Whig Party and were responsible for many written attacks on the king and the English government.

Trenchard was a member of the Whig reform party and was a major advocate for change in Britain. With Walter Moyle, he wrote an article stating that a standing army was inconsistent with a free government. Later when he met Gordon, the two began to work together on a series of letters known collectively as "Cato" which attacked everything from religious corruption to government favors.

Thomas Gordon, also an advocate for change, authored pamphlets on controversies throughout England. It was through these writings that Gordon became acquainted with Trenchard.

The Cato letters were responsible for inspiring the founding fathers of the United States in the writing of the Constitution. Indeed the demands and philosophies found within the letters were used to justify elements of the Revolutionary war against Britain by the American colonists.

Among the items discussed in the letters were concepts surrounding everything from freedom of speech to checks and balances within the government. The Cato letters identified free speech as being essential to free government. They identified governments as requiring checks within their constitutions. And they stated that "all men are born free," and that "Liberty is a gift that they receive from God Himself." Each of the preceding can be found in the U.S. Constitution today.

These men, members of the Whig party, were responsible for a radical shift in thinking which would ultimately bring about the birth of a new nation. Indeed, their writings are as profound and important today as they were in the seventeen hundreds. Our very constitution is based on them.

Bibliography

John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon. "Free Speech Philosophers. http://www.uark.edu/depts/comminfo/freespeech/trenchard.html