The Declaration of Independence was a formal announcement to the world that the American colonies were separating from England. Ever since the Mayflower landed in Plymouth Massachusetts, the colonists were British subjects – initially allowed to exist semi-autonomously. Most were content to live under British rule and abide by British customs. But, as time wore on and new generations were born in the colonies, the culture of what became the United States changed. This set the stage for independence.
The British Crown recognized these changes and took steps to exert enhanced control over their territory. It began slowly, with King George III refusing to allow his governors to pass laws their constituents requested. He created offices to enforce British Law and the offenses became more egregious. King George III began dissolving local legislative bodies. He took control of the judiciary and forced the colonists to feed and house British soldiers. In 1774 the British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The conflict was coming to a head.
On July 4th, 1776, colonial delegates voted on and passed the Declaration of Independence announcing the colonists’ separation from British Rule and the creation of a new country – The United States of America. The declaration listed 27 violations against the colonists by the British government. These all were rights and privileges the colonists previously had enjoyed as British subjects. Each were slowly eroding as King George III acted to bring the colonies back in line.
This was an act of treason.
Each of the 56 signers of the Declaration were considered British subjects at the time. They were openly refuting their association with their government. Each one of the signers could have been executed immediately had they encountered a British soldier when exiting Independence Hall. When they wrote they pledged their, “Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” that is exactly what they had done.
Let’s break down the preamble of the Declaration. We are familiar with these words.
“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.”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident” – This establishes a fixed standard of right and wrong. It also establishes a hierarchy of authority. Government created by man is not the highest authority. This is the basis of limited government.
“That all men are created equal” – Every person is created equal in the eyes of God and has the same rights as a condition of being a human being.
“That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” – The rights each of us have are given to us by God and cannot be changed by man.
“That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” – This is the basis of our God-given rights. All others flow from these areas.
“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men” – The purpose of government is to protect these unalienable Rights and to not violate them.
“Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” – The only just authority government has is what the people represented by that government agree to.
“That when any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.” – When government fails to protect our God-given rights, We The People can change it in such a way to fulfill its intended purpose. This is the basis for Article V.
What a wonderful and radical document this was. The Founding Fathers created a country with a limited government and the authority given to it by its constituents. The United States is the only country founded on this principle. Every other country relinquishes governing authority to a person, a family or a council, which ultimately allows that government to act any way it wishes. History shows that an unrestrained government will always act in its own interests instead of the interests of its people.
How blessed we are to be the benefactors of this act of treason. Fortunately, we do not need to follow the same course. All we have to do is protect and defend the government established in the Constitution. We have to be self-governing citizens, which sounds easy, but we know it is not. Take this week to reflect on the many blessings we have as a county. Read the Declaration of Independence and see how each of the 27 grievances listed were cured in the Constitution. Resolve to do one thing each day to preserve liberty to reflect the meaning of these documents.
I believe the best vehicle for that is what The Framers of the Constitution provided for us in the Article V convention of states process. The reason Convention of States Action exists is to use the Constitution to save and restore the Constitution. The survival of our republic depends on it. That seems like a good reason to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Have a blessed Independence Day.
In liberty,
Brett
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