Philadelphia, PA – Reflecting on History, January 02, 2026
The United States of America was founded on revolutionary principles that continue to define its identity: individual liberty, equality under the law, and government by consent of the governed. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, announcing the 13 colonies’ separation from British rule.
The Declaration proclaimed that “all men are created equal” and endowed with “unalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Governments, it asserted, derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and when a government becomes destructive, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. This document not only justified independence but established America’s core purpose: to secure these natural rights through a system protecting freedom from tyranny.
Following the Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the Articles of Confederation proved inadequate, leading to the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Delegates crafted the U.S. Constitution, creating a federal republic with separated powers—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent concentrated authority.
Original copy of US constitution sold to unknown buyer for $43m …
To promote ratification, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays explaining the Constitution’s design. They argued for a strong union to ensure stability, defense against foreign threats, and checks on factionalism, while preserving state sovereignty.
The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, added protections for individual freedoms, fulfilling promises to Anti-Federalists wary of central power.
America’s founding purpose remains a beacon: a nation dedicated to limited government, personal responsibility, and opportunity for all, inspiring self-determination worldwide.-WAA
References:
- https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
- https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers
- https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
