History of The United States Government, Forming a New Nation

In 1787 America’s Founding Fathers created a document which had infinite potential, the Constitution; even now, the Constitution and its promises are not fulfilled. As American citizens, we cannot merely mind our own business and blindly follow the laws set in place by the government. The maintaining of a republic in America is, and will always be, our business, and therefore our shared responsibility. Our country is in danger of solely owning the title “Land of the Free” instead of having all the freedom advertised by that name. By writing the Constitution, our predecessors made possible both advancements and inventions which are still commonly used and appreciated currently. Though the Constitution never guaranteed that those creations would come into existence, the American people used their ingenuity to create wonders previously unimaginable. However, the government the Founding Fathers established worked in a different way: once ratified, the Constitution pledged with complete certainty that we would at least begin with a republic. Whether we decide to keep that republic in place and what we do to uphold it is the decision of the American people. Benjamin Franklin and his associates trusted us to keep the promise of the Constitution because they truly believed that we were and are prepared by America’s history. Our Founding Fathers passed the responsibility of maintaining liberty in our nation to us, just as we will to the following generations. Once freedom in America is eradicated, its flame is eternally extinguished. Our present choices concerning the government must not be decided because of short-term benefits, but because we hold and guard the future of the United States.

It is important, as Christian Americans, to use the potential which the Constitution created to serve and honor God. Creating an environment conducive to love and concern for others prepares future generations for the responsibility, which we will pass on to them, of giving children the opportunities they were lucky enough to possess themselves. Additionally, we should make sure that the advancements we make, though helpful, point us in the right direction. Our focus should not be on people or material gains, but on God and his plan for this country. In conclusion, most Americans have an understanding of how they believe the government should run, but God’s will is above all of our petty disagreements and, inevitably, overrules the borders we set in place.

One subject which is vital for an American to possess knowledge about is our government and how it functions. At the time of America’s transformation into a country recognized by Europe, it was extremely abnormal for a nation’s people to be united, not by a common language, but by a belief in liberty. Keeping our country a bastion of freedom is for others’ sake and our own, for we need to be able to share our resources and ideas with other countries. Unlike at the start of our journey as a nation, there are now many like-minded countries which we can help grow and prosper. One adversary of democracy is anarchy, which always eventually devolves into the oppression of a weaker group by the stronger group. One reason a government is needed is that the limits for what can be considered correct behavior have to be defined. In the past, a country’s government was not democratic or influenced by the people as much as they are now. Instead, the government was a ruler who rose above the others as a leader and whose character determined the lives of everyone they led. Absolutely no one expected that one ruler would lead to a new form of government, let alone a form which gave civilians a say in the affairs of their nation. America’s Founding Fathers had to decide how such a government would function; it was determined that the American government would rely on checks, balances, and religion. The checks and balances prevented one branch of the government from attempting to rule the others, and religious freedom guaranteed that people would live their lives to a certain standard to please their deity. Though democracy worked in America, in other places, people need more help starting one. The right to vote, while incredibly helpful, does not set a country up for a good government as much as provide a platform for bad people to be elected democratically. We bear the responsibility to vote in a way which would help other nations, as well as our own, maintain freedom.

Remembering the origin of America can assist us when we are confused as to why other nations are having difficult times establishing a republic. A major consideration everyone assessing situations worldwide must make is that most countries have had the same type of government as long as they have existed. Therefore, as opposed to embracing new leaders and ideas, people may wish to remain in a system in which they learned how to do well. Another point which is increasingly important is that we focus on our internal problems as we help other countries deal with theirs. Ignoring the issues in America can eventually lead to the accidental installation of those same issues in a country we attempt to help.