“Every generation needs a new revolution.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Our country and it’s supreme law (the constitution) was founded by revolutionaries (our Founding Fathers), men who literally had a price placed on their heads by England’s King George. Their capture would have meant a cruel and certain death as public examples of what happens to the enemies of the British Crown, yet they persisted “With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, [and they did] mutually pledge to each other [their] Lives, [their] Fortunes, and [their] sacred Honor” (Declaration of Independence). Because of their sacrifice we enjoy relative freedom form oppression and political “witch hunts”. Most of us are asked to give so little to exercise our unalienable rights- our liberty. What may be as much a surprise to you as it was to me, these revolutionaries were a minority of the colonial population.
So what do we (average American citizens), know about the form of government these patriots gave us? I admit I knew very little until a few years ago (and I’m a middle-aged adult, a Retired Soldier even) but I am NOT alone. As an experiment, try casually conducting your own little poll at home or among friends and coworkers over then next few days and make a mental note of the answers you receive to this question, “What is the form of government used by the United States?” That question will likely produce a variety of answers. While Democracy is typically atop the list of answers, there may be a few who actually get the correct answer (and it’s not “democracy”), but they are in the minority. You are invited to share the results of your informal poll at the “Comments” link at the bottom of this page.
Our form of Government in the United States is a Republic, not a democracy as we have been led to believe. While that comes as a surprise to some it usually surprises even more people that the word Democracy NEVER appears a single time in the founding documents. Nowhere in the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution or the Bill of Rights! In fact, when the Founding Fathers did expound on “Democracies”, some spoke of democracy with utter contempt and none of them had praise for it. Next question for your family or friends: Ask them to describe in their own words, the form of government they gave as their answer to the first question. If their answer to the first question was other than “A Republic”, follow-up with this final question: “Describe a Republic” and note the expression on their face.
Rather than be critical of our collective lack of knowledge on this fundamental topic, let us endeavor to elevate and enlighten our understanding. The video at the bottom of this page, (Proof that America is a Republic, NOT a Democracy) does an exceptional job of doing just that. By viewing this short video, the necessity that we understand this key point should become self-evident. Any citizen, having been tutored by this brief video will walk away with a superior understanding of the basis of our American system of government, or at least that which was intended by our inspired Founding Fathers.
Possession of fundamental facts such as the basis for, and the motive of our founders giving us a republic is crucial to having an informed and educated citizenry/electorate. Clearly, the Founding Fathers considered and advocated that education is essential to safeguard our liberties and the unalienable rights granted by “[our] Creator” which our republic protects. Because the teaching of Civics and the U.S. Constitution was almost completely removed from the curriculum of public education in the 1950′s, it is incumbent upon those of us so informed, to dutifully help inform fellow Americans without being insulting or condescending.
There are increasing numbers of Americans striving to reform this breech in the curriculum of public education. Three generations of Americans, have passed through public schools with inadequate teaching of the constitution. I am from the second generation. Much of that which as been purveyed in public schools has been unflattering toward the constitution or the great men who penned it under the inspiration of Almighty God. In very deed, at times their histories have been utter fabrications by the enemies of our constitution in an orchestrated effort to discredit the founders! This has seriously weakened but not yet destroyed America’s underpinnings (our reverence for morality, the constitution, it’s authors and the God who inspired them).
As Jefferson said, “Every generation needs a new revolution“. In our case it is to return to our roots, our bedrock but this revolution is not waged with guns or steel. It is a battle for the minds and hearts of the American people through education. It is a battle waged with ideas and knowledge. In this revolution, “the pen is mightier than the sword”. “Knowledge is power” and the enemies of the constitution and our unalienable rights know it, so please share this! The better we are at that task (educating one-another), the more likely we are to avert the spilling of of blood as our forefathers did to usurp an oppressive government. God forbid! Armed with that power (knowledge), we can keep America alive, because America, you ARE too young to die!
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with
their own government." --Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, 1789.
So what can I do? IF you are concerned, as millions of other patriotic Americans are- IF you are tired of the rhetoric in politics and the media- IF you still want to learn how you can something exciting, productive and positive to help “heal [our] land” (2 Chronicles 7:14), please attend the live online “Healing of America” seminars in the comfort of your home, sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies or find a constitutional studies group near you. This blog is not an affiliate or subsidiary of the Thomas Jefferson Center and the author is solely responsible for its content.
