Downfall Pt 5

Part 5

I think now would be a good time to cover the two documents that define what this country is all about; the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

To cover these two documents fully would take far too much time and space, so I will go over them as briefly as possible. I do think it should be required reading for all citizens and those who wish to become citizens. For how are we to know how well our government is doing if we are unfamiliar with the rules they are obliged by law to follow?

The Declaration of Independence was the document that severed the umbilical chord that tied us to Britain. You might call it our nations birth certificate. It is in two sections, the Preamble which outlines what the intent of the document is, and the body which outlines the reasons for doing so.

I would like to focus on the Preamble, because in my opinion it could also be applied to circumstances today as well. (emphasis added)


When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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 the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.


Thomas Jefferson wrote that, and in my opinion it is one of the most eloquent pieces of literature ever written.

Pay particular attention to the italicized paragraphs. To paraphrase them it basically says, that we have rights, given to us by God, and that governments are created to protect those rights. The governments derive their power from the people, that is to say that they don't do anything without our consent. It also says that when a government becomes too powerful or unmindful of our wishes and desires it is our duty to alter or abolish that form of government. It finally says that the steps to altering or abolishing a form of government is not something to be taken lightly, but when a series of abuses take place it is our duty to step up and do what is needed to protect our rights and freedoms.

Another thing to consider before moving on to the Constitution is that at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we were still a colony of the British government. Even though we were declaring our independence from them, the British still considered us a part of their country. Therefore those who drafted and signed that document were committing an act of treason against Britain. It was not something that they took lightly, for they knew their livelihood and quite possibly their lives could be forfeited by doing so. It took men of great character and courage to take that step towards independence, and that is something we might all think about in the years to come. Do we have men of that caliber living among us today? If so is the rest of the country willing to hear what they have to say or are they going to sit back and let their country be taken from them? It is a question that haunts me constantly, and I hope for the sake of the nation that there will be enough people who are willing to stand up for our rights and freedoms when the time comes.
I refer you once more to what Samuel Adams said,

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"