Michael S. Law - The Founders Revolution: The Forgotten History & Principles of the Declaration of Independence

Today we hear from speeches, news outlets, social media, articles, and books a great deal of political turmoil and rhetoric surrounding government policies. And more and more of this discussion centers around what is thought to be constitutional and what is not. I have always wondered what Americas Founders would have thought about what has been done to the nation they spent so many years shaping. Certainly they had their own issues, rhetoric, and political turmoil. They did not always agree with one another. In fact, they often voiced disagreements with each others perspective on a handful of issues. However, they found unity around the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

On the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted unanimously in the affirmative with each state having one vote, even though each state had multiple representatives. The signers of the Declaration unified the nation to a common cause in time of war. That cause was not just Americas but all humanitys, which is one reason the principles stated in the Declaration are universal and unchanging.

The Founders used specific wording, which their generation understood well and even todays students of their words can grasp fairly easily. They were masters of the English language as well as master statesmen. Take Patrick Henry, for example. He said, I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Then there is the schoolteacher turned spy, Nathan Hale, who, just before being hanged by the British for being a spy, stated, I regret that I have but one life to give for my country. Then there is the story of John Paul Jones, Americas first navy hero. While in the midst of his own sinking ship, one of his men called for quartersurrender. The British captain they were fighting against was willing to give quarter to them, but Jones refused. He declared he had not called for quarter and told the British captain that he still intended to fight on, saying, I have not yet begun to fight! These words, even today, are inspirational and can help unify a nation to embrace a common causethe cause of liberty.

Unfortunately, an increasing number of Americans have not even read the Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution, much less any of our other founding documents.