What is a Libertarian? By Definition, According to American Heritage® Dictionary, A Libertarian is “one who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.” A Libertarian follows the political philosophy emphasizing the rights of the individual, as the right to self-ownership and, by extension, the right to private ownership of material resources and property.
Libertarian as a word, was not used until 1857, in a letter by Joseph Déjacque, but Libertarianism arose from the political philosophies of John Locke and the Baron de Montesquieu, and the moral and economic philosophy of Adam Smith in the 18th century.
The Founding Fathers of the United States saw the protection of liberty as the primary purpose of government. Thomas Jefferson had said, “rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.” The Bill of Rights was created to protect our liberty.
The Libertarian Party is the third largest, current political party, in the United States. The political party was founded in 1971.
