Foundations of America

Denise Nachtigal
Apr 27, 2018
2 min read

We tend to think that because something is history, it's not AS important as the here and now. I know, I know, you're always being lectured on learning from the past and those who don't learn from history or doomed to repeat it...etc..etc. Well, here's the truth:

It's all true. Every last word and warning.

The founders of our nation took this into account when they banded together to create the United States. They took what they knew about monarchies and dictatorships and all forms of government up to that point and asked,

"So, guys, how can we NOT be like all this craziness? How do we create a country where people are truly free, with basic rights that the government can't mess with, and an actual say in how they are governed?"

Ok, so I paraphrased a whole lot there, but you get the point. The founding fathers were looking for a form of government in which people weren't ordered to do things. They wanted a government in which the ruling class wouldn't live off the fat of the land while the rest of the country slaved away to provide for them. They wanted people to have an actual voice in what they wanted. Looking around, they saw regimes and governments rise and fall within generations, and they wanted something that would last at LEAST 200 years.

With this in mind, the basis of our country was formed. They set down rules and regulations, not necessarily for the PEOPLE, but for the government; to limit it's power and prevent it from becoming a tyrannical one. However, they understood the nature of people, and of time. While I do believe the founding fathers suspected that eventually our government would probably break down, their goal was to prevent that as long as possible.

This is why it is so vitally important that we learn from history. It is essential that we, as citizens, know what our rights and RESPONSIBILITIES are, and what the government can and cannot do. If there's one thing I would beg any student to read, it's the Declaration of Independence, and the United States Constitution.

I know, it's a pretty dry read. There's no robots, no fighting, no scary stuff, no romance....it's straight up just a list of rules, essentially, but these rules are the most important thing you could EVER read if you value what freedoms you have. They are the rules that took America from a fledgling land of primitive knowledge, to a world super power in record time. They are the rules that made our nation one of the strongest in the world. They are the rules that made our country a haven for so, so many across the globe. They are definitely worth an hour of your time.