Final answer:
Civil liberties at the foundation of the American republic were limited and selectively applied, with initial protections only for actions by the national government. The Fourteenth Amendment expanded these rights to include state actions, and civil liberties evolved over time to be more inclusive. Civil rights differ from civil liberties and focus on equal protection under the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition of civil liberties at the time the American republic was founded can best be described as limited and selectively applied. Initially, the civil liberties set forth by the Bill of Rights only applied to actions taken by the national government. The Fourteenth Amendment and a series of Supreme Court decisions later expanded most protections to cover actions by state governments through selective incorporation. Nevertheless, the application of these rights was not uniformly enforced across different states and among all people. There has been an evolution over time to include a wider set of rights and protections for a broader group of individuals under the Constitution. Civil rights, distinct from civil liberties, are government guarantees of equal protection under the law to ensure that a group's rights are not violated or denied. Over time, the definition of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment has expanded, reflecting the dynamic nature of civil liberties interpretations. Additionally, the relationship between individual liberties and community welfare is an ongoing balancing act that the government navigates with the intent to protect the rights of individuals while also considering societal interests.