Uprise Founder's Notes
- Daily Readings from the Founding Fathers
- A Dose of the Constitution
- Regular Exercise in the Political Process
- Call Me In The Morning
By Lorie Cox 2009
We The People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Preamble to the Constitution)
Our Constitution is unique. Most people are unaware that the concept of a written constitution is an American idea. Centuries before our Constitution the European (anglo-saxon) “Common Law” was unwritten. It was assumed that the people knew the principles of Common Law (the difference in right and wrong) so it did not seem necessary to put it in writing. I consider it ironic that they had no written constitution because everyone knew it in their heart and mind, and today we have our written constitution, yet very few know its background or what it says, let alone do people have a heart and mind to revere and preserve this document that proclaims our liberty.
Public schools have failed to include the elements of history that would instill a passion and love for the creation of this document. There are nuggets of truth and light that once revealed can only make you hunger to know more. I write these things not to convince you but to share what I have learned in my rediscovery of the past that holds the key to our future.
The scientist in all of us should be especially curious as this was considered the greatest social experiment in all of history. Did it work? Will it keep working? How do we know? Does anyone have a better idea? All valid questions, and you as a citizen control the answers. I encourage you to self educate in the Divine Providence of your freedom and how to best maintain it for yourself, your children and grandchildren. I urge you to be bold in your quest for knowledge and proud of America’s Heritage.
It is my hope this description of events will provoke you to consider the cost of your liberty. In June of 1776 Thomas Jefferson drafted The Declaration Of Independence, a list of grievances against the British King, making known the “self-evident truths” as rights bestowed upon all humans by God. It was by no means a passive response to the oppression of tyranny and this was not a set of new laws or a list of demands. It was a “Declaration Of War!”
After this, the individual states had adopted their own constitutions but there was no central government. A five year effort on the part of congress brought approval of the Articles Of Confederation, the first attempt at a written constitution. It remained in force from March 1781 to March 1789. Giving much power to the states, the Articles left the central government weak. This may sound appealing today but at that time created chaos. There was no consistency between the states in regard to trade and the country lacked a strong unified military.
In 1787 a Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to create a Constitution that would strengthen the central government. After several months of debate, it was ratified and became effective in 1789. This is the Constitution that has preserved America for over 200 years.
On December 15th, 1791 The Bill Of Rights was adopted, which are the 1st ten Amendments to the Constitution.. This addition was mainly to clarify our inalienable rights and to express the limits of the central government. There was debate as to whether this was necessary since these rights are assumed, God given and cannot be taken away.
The Founders warned that even though you cannot lose these rights you can give them away a little at time. This can happen knowingly or not. But in their wisdom our Framers put in place the necessary principles to take back your rights in the event you have naively entrusted them to an irresponsible person or entity. When you, yourself no longer see it as an honor, duty and privilege to do everything it takes to preserve this Liberty…. then you have already given yours away.
