Posted: 1/7/2009 1:03:58 PM EDT
Post 1776 has to count for something 
Rome wasn't built in a day: nor was the United States of America. The revolutionary war ending was just the beginning of a long and arduous process to design a form of government that protected its people from the same mistakes that caused the rebellion against Britain in the first place. After the war, the original articles of confederation granted states sovereignty, and severely limited national government. There were no clauses for taxation, and we were ruled by a congress with extremely limited power. As time went on, the normal everyday citizens - and the congress especially, became aware of the shortcomings of our weak form of government. States began to impose the same tariffs on each other that had caused the Boston tea party. Imagine bringing your crop from Georgia to New York, and paying taxes at every border crossing. Famine was breaking out and riots began - and in some cases, all out rebellion. Indians, and the Spanish especially, were terrorizing our outer lying colonies. The congress had no money to raise an army, let alone run the country. The crisis led to the forming of the Philadelphia Convention, and the drafting of our Constitutional articles as we now know them. Each state sent delegates to the convention with express direction: Keep our state rights intact, and don't let them take anything away. Delegates took this to heart, and infighting began. Rhode Island was so opposed to the idea of national government interfering in our lives - that they sent no delegates. Some of the original ideas formed while hashing out the details are very hard to wrap your head around. Some wanted the legislature to elect the president. Some wanted him to serve a life term - thinking as his term went on, he would only get better at the job. Some wanted each state to have just one representative. The argument to give the vote for the President to the people was one of the longest and most heated debates. It truly was an argument of a lifetime. Very fortunately all the representatives agreed on two things: That the current system was broken, and that no government should have free reign over its people - it should be the voice of the people - and that only. From May until September of 1787 they argued. George Washington preceded over the entire meeting in relative silence. When it was over, we had our constitution, but to some who had tireless worked to forge it, signing it was blasphemous. Some found it gave the government too much power, and emaciated their state rights. Others, rather ominously, found the overlooking of outlawing slavery immoral, and refused to put pen to paper and sign. Even more were upset that no bill of rights was included in the document. In the end, it took another year for it to be ratified by the 2nd Continental Congress. When it was, the obvious first choice for President was General George Washington. He was a hero throughout the colonies. In a time before email, telephones, and the internet, rumors spread like wildfire about politicians - but no one could refute the man who had defeated the British. At his inauguration he asked openly that he not be paid the lawfully given salary - although he was already deeply in debt. The bill of rights was passed in 1791. It's funny...looking back at all the years it took to create this country. We ALL firmly believe in our liberties - yet even then someone opposed them. Those were historical times, and I'm curious to see if I will be living through the downfall of some of those liberties that were bestowed on us by those great men, in 1776. They say we are living through historical times ourselves. Only time will tell. |
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That is sad but true |
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Good post Dravisar.
Always good to think on those things and stay focused. The only things that matter for this Country are The Declaration and The Constitution. It is always interesting to ponder the process, especially the Constitutional Convention, the struggle to get the Constitution and then the Bill Of Rights accepted by the colonies. There have always been forces among us attempting to undermine Liberty, for whatever reason. Now more than ever, of course. |