The United States of America is the greatest governmental experiment the world has ever known. The colonies formed a nation based on equality and consent, which culminates most beautifully in the United States Constitution.
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States by Howard Chandler Christy
Over a century before America’s founding, men and women sailed across the oceans to the New World in search of a better life—some to escape religious persecution, some seeking economic prosperity, and others for adventure. They brought with them an understanding of art, literature, law, and technology. What they did not bring was a government, aristocracy, or system of rule. While force and coercion were common methods of governance in Europe, the colonists recognized the need for a government that would protect the people from the kind of tyranny and oppression from which they fled.
Equality among Men is Eternal
Opposing political hierarchy, the settlers recognized the need for equality. Equality under God is the first principle upon which the settlers built their law. In 1776, two years before the United States Constitution was ratified, Thomas Jefferson famously wrote, “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.”
Because all men are equal, no one has the right to rule over another. Everyone has a natural right to liberty, and from this liberty, all other rights are derived. Self-governance is impossible without equality. To establish a government that protects freedom, equality is necessary. What’s needed next is a government to secure and protect these rights, one that is responsive to the people.
Collective Consent Allows for a Government of the People and for the People
Consent is the second principle of the United States' founding. Collective consent forms the foundation of government, as it involves citizens coming together to establish a governing body and accept its rules. Because of this attention to consent, the Constitution becomes an agreement between equals, not a relationship of subordination.
Equality among men and the consent of the people to form a government together allow for a government that aims to protect each individual's freedom impartially. Freedom is essential for living and working well, and the Constitution protects this right through the people’s election of representatives. The elected officials are tasked with two main aims: first, national protection from outsiders, and second, internal protection from other citizens.
Division of Power Prevents Tyranny
To achieve these ends, the Constitution outlines a division of power into three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Legislative branch creates laws, the Executive branch enforces them, and the Judicial branch interprets the laws to ensure they are applied justly. The different articles of the Constitution lay out the structure, selection, and powers of each branch of the federal government.
The chief goal of every clause of the Constitution is to allow the people to govern themselves with just reason. It limits the power of each branch, so ultimately, every decision of the government is based upon the will of the people through elections.
The United States Constitution is so significant because it is the first purely representative government in history. Every man and woman are equal, so the sovereign is the constitutional majority, but the majority doesn’t occupy a branch of government. They act only through elections. Elections, while essential, take time and require widespread engagement and popularity. To change the law, one must communicate with many people and engage in meaningful dialogue, reflecting the need for active participation and deliberation within the democratic process.
To preserve the Constitution, it must be taught and held sacred by all Americans—men, women, and children alike. This preservation ensures that the principles guiding elections and democratic engagement are upheld. Neglecting the foundational principles of the Constitution risks a descent into tyranny. The Constitution enshrines the inherent equality of every individual and the essential freedoms they require, serving as a guardian of these liberties. To forget the Constitution is to undermine the very essence of liberty itself, inviting a future where freedom is no more.