Welcome
PrefaceThe Declaration of Independence was a statement made to the King of England at a point when the colonists believed they could no longer suffer the oppression of their government. In this statement they established a rule or hierarchy of sovereignty unique to America. Prior to this time most, but not all, governments were established by a King, dictator, or ruling class which laid edicts upon its subjects and promised them protection for which taxes and other homage was paid, and all law came from that source. Whatever laws were created were done so at the pleasure of the ruler and without concern for their subjects. In some societies it was quite common for the ruler to claim he had divine guidance or to say that he spoke for God. In some cases rulers claimed to be God in the flesh. The bottom line is they had the ability to lord over all aspects of the people’s lives for good or bad. Freedom was only granted to nobility either through birth or through the grace of the ruler.
However, here in this great land, the people said no more. We have suffered oppression, taxation, and the taking of our land and our property; and it is wrong. Here we established that God, our creator, by the very act of our creation, instilled upon us our rights; and those rights were not granted by any government. Our new government was to be created by the people, drawing its power from the people solely for the purpose of protecting those rights. As soon as the government turns to make unjust demands upon the people, or usurp power where it is not entitled, it is the right of the people to correct or abolish that government and start anew.
It is not enough just to declare that men are free, there must be a means by which to control a government once it is created. That mechanism is the Constitution for the United States. It takes more than mere words on parchment to change the nation and to change history. It takes brave men and women who are willing to take responsibility for their actions and to act as truly free people.
