As we approach a momentous milestone in America’s story—the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026—we also prepare to celebrate 65 years of advancing liberty at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS).
These anniversaries offer a powerful opportunity to reflect on the transformative ideas at the heart of the American experiment and renew our commitment to the principles that made this nation a flourishing beacon of liberty.
In celebration of the liberal principles that inspired our forefathers so many years ago, the Institute for Humane Studies invites undergraduate students to participate in the Foundations of Liberty Undergraduate Essay Contest.
Contest Details
Student submissions must focus on one of the twelve core principles listed below, but students may choose from three available prompts. Essays should not exceed 750 words and can be submitted using the application below. Twelve winners will be selected, one per principle.
Winners receive a $1,000 award and a framed poster of the IHS-commissioned artwork representing the core principle their essay addressed.Their essay will also be printed in a literary magazine published by IHS.
Eligibility
- Students must be enrolled full-time and pursuing an undergraduate degree at a four-year degree-granting institution in the US.
- Winners may be required to provide proof of enrollment prior to receiving their award.
Timeline
Contest Opens: March 1, 2025
Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025
Contest winners will be announced no later than September 1, 2025.
Essay Prompts
Students may select one of the following prompts:
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- Why is this principle central to human flourishing and a free society?
- Why does the future of America depend on this principle?
- What does this principle mean to you?
Core Principles
Choose from the following:
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- Human Dignity: The inherent worth possessed by every person simply by being human. (Recommended Reading: “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?” – Frederick Douglass)
- Economic Freedom: The ability to voluntarily exchange goods and services, which is essential for prosperity and progress. (Recommended Reading: “Candlestick Makers’ Petition” – Frédéric Bastiat)
- Voluntary Action: The principle that human flourishing arises from free choices rather than coercion. (Recommended Reading: “The Voluntaryist Creed” – Auberon Herbert)
- Rule of Law: The equal treatment of all citizens under the law. (Recommended Reading: “The Law” – Frédéric Bastiat)
- Spontaneous Order: The natural emergence of stable and adaptable social outcomes beyond centralized planning. (Recommended Reading: “The Miraculous Market” – Leonard Read)
- Civil Society: The network of freely formed institutions and norms that operate independently of the state to balance power. (Recommended Reading: “Of the Use That Americans Make of Association in Civil Life” – Alexis de Tocqueville)
- Toleration and Pluralism: The embrace of diverse choices and ways of living in a free society. (Recommended Reading: “A Letter Concerning Toleration” – John Locke)
- Freedom of Expression: The right to share and exchange ideas without fear of oppression. (Recommended Reading: “A Plea for Free Speech in Boston” – Frederick Douglass)
- Justice: The protection of rights and provision of remedies for their violation. (Recommended Reading: ”Second Treatise of Government” – John Locke)
- Intellectual Humility: The recognition of the limits of personal knowledge and the dangers of overconfidence in authority. (Recommended Reading: “The Use of Knowledge in Society” – F. A. Hayek)
- Peaceful Solutions: The preference for nonviolence and freely formed arrangements to serve the common good. (Recommended Reading: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
- Individual Freedom: The belief that people are ends in themselves, entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (Recommended Reading: “Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-Being” – J. S. Mill)
Submit your essay today!
