“Imperialism” and “The Tracks of Our Forefathers”

Charles Francis Adams wrote two thought-provoking papers: “Imperialism” and “The Tracks of Our Forefathers.” Adams examines the complex relationship between imperialism and liberty in a talk given on December 20, 1898, before the Lexington, Massachusetts Historical Society.

He considers how, at a critical juncture in history, imperium (authority) and libertas (freedom) were reconciled. The study explores the difficulties societies confront in attempting to strike a balance between authority and individual rights.