Two hundred and forty years ago, the Founding Fathers of these United States of

America created the Declaration of Independence, a statement that declared that the thirteen
original colonies are breaking away from the influence of Great Britain. One of the most
powerful lines in this statement was Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and institute new Government,
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power in such form, as to them shall
seem more likely to affect their Safety and Happiness, an idea that is so radical, even to this
day, that it would lead to a new form of government that would oppose the matriarchy rulings of
King George and last up to present day. However, this idea of the people being able to
overthrow any government they dont see fit to rule may have dissipated over the years, with our
nation forgetting this right as citizens of the U.S., while our government is preventing the use of
this right by the populous. As of 2016, our culture has forgotten the ways of our rebellious
forefathers, with the government placing rules such as 18 U.S. Code 2383, 2384, and 2385 to
punish those that try to use the right to overthrow a corrupt government. With these laws in
place, the citizens of this country are losing out on the right given to all of us by our fallen heros
of the past.
The first of the trio to limit citizen rights is 18 U.S. Code 2383, otherwise known as
Rebellion or Resurrection. This law states that Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or
engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws
thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more
than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2383). What this means is that anyone who tries to
cause any rebellion in the U.S. is either fined, in jail for ten years or both, as well as preventing
anyone who has broken this rule from gaining political power in the country. How this goes
against the decisions of the Founding Fathers is that this law presents a negative effect for
using this right to overthrow the government, resulting with others not exercising this given
right.This theme continues to carry on to the other two laws.
The following law yet again goes against what the original U.S.citizens had gone to war
over. 18 U.S. Code 2384, Seditious Conspiracy. This law states that If two or more persons
in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire
to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy
war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or
delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any
property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under
this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384). The meaning behind this ruling is that if two
or more civilians try to take down the government by way of force, then they will be in jail for
twenty years, pay a fine or do both. When compared to the quote from the Declaration of
Independence, it is seen that the new law goes against the actions of the early patriots, since
they used force in order to remove British influence from the new world. Due to the creation of
this act, the government prevents people from using violence to cause change in the current
government, denying American citizens to legally use force to drive changes in how our
democracy is runned.

Lastly it is the third act , 18 U.S. Code 2385, called Advocating overthrow of
Government. What this ruling states that Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets,
advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying
the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or
Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence,
or by the assassination of any officer of any such government, Shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the
United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his
conviction. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2385). The law tells the reader that
whoever tries to call for an overthrow of the government or tries to teach others to think that
way, the perpetrator will either be fined, imprisoned for twenty years, or both, as well as
preventing them from getting a job for five years. This final law against the use of ones rights
puts a limit on the amount of free speech to those that want to gether help to tear down the old
government and build a new one. This third law prevents others of calling for help to fight
towards a change in how the people want to be run, the same actions that early Americans
used in order to become their independent country, as well as gather troops for battle.
In total, our current nation is not living up to the the full extend of our power due to rules
set in that prevents the use of the rights given to every citizen of the United States. With the
government trying to secure their current position and structure of power, the nations
inhabitants are discouraged to use the rights written down on the Declaration of Independance.
The once bold way of life for the newly born nation has now since lost meaning in our current
civilization, runned by the very thing that is suppose to be decided by the people, for the people.

Sites used:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2385
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2383