It blinded the eyes of liberals to the fact that their own special interpretations of liberty, individuality and intelligence were themselves historically conditioned, and were relevant only to their own time. They put forward their ideas as immutable truths good at all times and places; they had no idea of historic relativity, either in general or in its application to themselves.
To overcome checks and restraints placed on national government by the constitution, progressives knew they had tp critique the natural rights theory of the declaration.
