The Founding Values of America!

This is the question: Has America moved away from the values that it was once founded upon? We first have to take a look at why America was established.

“History is an article of faith that shows knowledge of the past as the key to understanding the present and foreseeing the future” -Kenneth Stampp

This is the question: Has America moved away from the values that it was once founded upon? We first have to take a look at why America was established.

The Preamble of the Constitution helps to understand why America was founded. The Preamble states: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our property, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

According to the Preamble of the Constitution which we still hold to today as Americans; the first thing that America was created according to the Preamble was “form a more perfect union.” The question here is: Why was there a need to form a “more” perfect union? When looking back at our past history, 13 British colonies broke away from the British rule because they no longer wanted to be controlled by Great Britain. The British king was abusing the power and authority that he had over the people. The main reason for the colonists leaving was to gain religious freedom. However, the other purpose was to be able to protect and further their own rights and interests. The colonists who broke away did so because they wanted to be a part of a nation that would allow them to freely practice their faith. The “more perfect union” for these colonists was to form a limited government that would be for the people and by the people.

In reference to: “establish justice,” the colonists wanted to create a fair and equal system of rules and laws. Justice for the American people was fairness and equality for all. As Abraham Lincoln states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.” The reason why there was a need to have justice as one of the corner stones of the Preamble was because these colonists were use to a King who had absolute control and power and he did not use his power for the good of the people. “For justice to be true justice, it must be fair. It must be administered equally and exactly to all.” (The Making of America, p. 239).

According to W. Cleon Skousen, “When a government protects the rights of its people and provides an adequate remedy for those who rights have been violated, then that government is providing equal justice for all.” The Founders of the United States of America looked upon the history of Rome, Athens and Great Britain and the wanted to establish a government that has a sense of justice and care of the common good of all men. Thomas Jefferson makes this important statement, “When one undertakes to administer justice, it must be with an even hand and by rule; what is done for one must be done for everyone in equal degree” (The Making of America, p. 241).

“When insuring domestic tranquility:” there should be a peaceful society where even the common people are protected from unlawful acts done by others. Insuring domestic tranquility is( how the spoke the fact they wanted peace) (re phase this sentence. I don’t understand what you are trying to say.)! They did not want to be at war with their government as they were always fighting and going against the King of Great Britain. They wanted a nation where the people had not only the right to freedom but also the right to speak out against the government and for the people to have a voice.

“Providing for the common defense:” the government would, if needed, seek to protect its citizens from any attack from another country or nation.

“By promoting the general welfare:” a free society would be created. Within this free society; any person whether they were poor or rich would have the opportunity to have the rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence which are, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Notice the word “Promote” is used here…. Not only is it the government’s job to insure that every person receives “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” but it also their job to “promote” and allow for there to be the opportunity. (opportunity for what?)

“Securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity:” allows freedom to be given to every person. Americans are free to choose where they live, work, believe, their faith, have their own actions, and not allowing their own rights to interfere with the rights of others.

In Franklin Roosevelt speech on “The Four Freedoms”, he ends it with this statement: “This nation has placed its destiny in the hands, heads, and hearts of its millions of free men and women, and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights and keep them. Our strength is in our unity of purpose.” As Americans, if we say we love our county then it is OUR JOB to stand and speak up for those whose rights are being taken away. It is OUR JOB to stand and fight for them in the same way that people have fought and died for the freedom we have been blessed to experience today. Our ultimate goal and purpose, no matter what party you represent , race, background, poor, or rich should be: to aid the common needs of the common people of the United States of America!

If we hold to the values of our past: as a country, a nation, a people, and As Americans…..there is more that our founding fathers would want us to do. Our government was not created to be a “hands-off” government, BUT a “hands-on” government for the common good of ALL people!