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The Foundation of America
By Justin Storm
Introduction
More than 200 years ago, in the year 1776, thirteen American colonies declaredindependence from, as the founders described it, “an absolute Tyranny” that wasadministered and executed by King George III. Numerous British “injuries andusurpations” on the American people prompted the free thinking, strong willedimmigrant citizens to declare and fight for their independence for the next eightyears (1776-1783). The fight was an arduous one. Many battles were won and loston each side. Had certain, seemingly random, occurrences favored the Britishforces, America would have dissipated into renewed bondage and its great historywould likely have been altered into mediocrity. Cornwallis, who led the Britishtroops at Yorktown during what is considered the battle that ended the war,summed it well when he “expostulated that it even looked like God was onWashington’s side” (pg. 104). Washington recounted and affirmed numerousevents where divine providence had protected him in war. The people on this continent were preserved and liberated to carry out a greatwork. Liberation led to freedom but history, at that time, proved that freedomrarely leads to sustained happiness and security. In fact, the founders identifiedonly two nations in the history of mankind that were able to provide “certainunalienable Rights… (of) Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”(Declaration of Independence) for a sustained period of time. It was the founders’ mission toresurrect, what Thomas Jefferson called, the “ancient principles” to establish arepublic of, for, and by the people; a republic that has blessed this and hundreds of other countries for the past two hundred years. The purpose of this paper is forthe reader to understand the governmental principles and structure found in theU.S. constitution that led to the greatest nation on earth.
Constitutional Convention
During the revolutionary war the United States of America adopted what was knownas the “Articles of Confederation” to govern the birth of our nation. It was evidentby the end of this war that the articles were incapable of preserving the country’sfreedom. The articles themselves nearly forfeited the colonies to the Britishbecause of its inability to facilitate quick decisions, raise wartime funds, andestablish a synergetic relationship between the states. The U.S. troops, who wereseverely mistreated during the war and not financially compensated as promised,were so dissatisfied with the Articles of Confederation that they proposed, andalmost forced, a military based government with George Washington as King (KingGeorge I). Had it not been for Washington’s wisdom and humility the proposed
 
monarchy would have likely displaced the birth and reality of the nation we enjoytoday.With the threat of a monarchy subsiding and anarchy looming over the states,Congress knew that revisions to the Articles of Confederation were immediatelyrequired. The Constitutional Convention or “The Miracle at Philadelphia”, as it iscalled, started on May 25, 1787 (almost 11 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed). It was here that the greatest minds of the time came todebate the new governing document that would shape the nation. It is because of this convention that we venerate and celebrate the secured blessings of life, liberty,and pursuit of happiness found in the U.S. Constitution.
People’s Law
 The founders developed a scale through which all governments were measured. Atone end they identified too little government (right side) and at the other end toomuch government (left side). Does this sound familiar? Traditionally democratswho are known for wanting more government involvement are considered “Lefties”or “left winged” and republicans who want less governmental regulation areconsidered “righties” or “right winged”. The challenge and goal of theconstitutional convention was to establish a government that contained the finebalance between tyranny (extreme left) and anarchy (extreme right). The foundersdespised tyranny but considered anarchy even worse. “They felt that the formulamust provide enough government to insure order and justice but not so muchgovernment that it could abuse the people. They referred to this as the “mediumpoint” or balanced center between anarchy and tyranny” (pg. 42 Making of America(MofA)).Ruler’s Law (Tyranny) People’s Law (Balanced Center) NoLaw (Anarchy) The founders were well aware of the “swinging pendulum” that went from tyrannyto anarchy after a revolution. This typically occurred when the suppressed peopleoverthrow the traditional government and do so with no structure or plan in place.Without much knowledge of sound political principles the people “would soon findthemselves quarreling, bickering, and eventually fighting one another” (pg. 42). The result was extreme chaos from which “a cry would gradually arise for someoneto take over and restore order. Always, there seemed to be some strong man,anxious to assume command. Taking control by force he would soon have orderrestored, but in the process the people would be right back where they were before– under a tyrant” (pg. 42 MofA). This pendulum swing is exactly what occurred inthe French revolution when the people freed themselves from a king only to re-captivate themselves under the well known menace-ruler Napoleon. Fortunately,the swinging U.S. pendulum was stopped when George Washington declined thehonor of becoming King George I. In summary, everything discussed and debated
 
at the convention had the ultimate end of cracking the governmental code toestablishing People’s Law.
Two Examples
Recent history could not be dissected to find this formula. The last 700 or so yearswere considered dark ages and littered with examples of Ruler’s Law (Monarchy). The founders had very few successful examples of governments that containedingredients to the balanced center. Two examples existed prior to the onset of thedark ages.
 Ancient Israel 
 The first example was found among the children of Israel in the Old Testament. Itwas at the age of eighty that God called upon Moses to liberate the Hebrews fromEgyptian bondage. Once liberated and traveling in the wilderness the populationwas estimated to be roughly 3 Million (pg. 49 MofA). Interestingly, Moses had beentrained in Ruler’s law upward of forty years at Pharaoh’s palace. Now he faced thesame dilemma the founders faced: what system of government did God want hispeople to have?Moses’ first attempt was to mimic Pharaoh’s government by putting himself as theruler over 600,000 households. It is recorded that “…the people stood by Mosesfrom the morning unto the evening.” (Exodus 18:13). Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro,visited the chosen people and observed Moses’ struggle to attend to matters bothgreat and small and “retire to his tent at night in total exhaustion” (pg. 49). “Andwhen [Jehtro] saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thoudoest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand bythee, from morning unto even?...The thing which thou doest is not good” (Exodus18:13-16). Jethro then instructed him on a structure that would ease his burden andallow the people to rule.
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