The Founding Fathers Constitution

The Founding Fathers of the United States were directed as well as inspired by God in the creation and writing of the United States Constitution.  Over the 220 plus years that the constitution has existed the constitution has undergone many changes.  To distinguish the original constitution from the constitution that the United States is governed by today we will call the original document the Founding Fathers Constitution.

The U. S. Founding Fathers were provided with a unique perspective that few people in history have experienced firsthand that is living under both extremes of government rule.  The authority of a tyrannical government as well as living under an ineffectual government charter with insufficient powers to govern. 

Initially life under the King George III of England was acceptable.  In fact, most of the people enjoyed life under the authority of the King of England.  As time passed grievances arose that the King was unable or unwilling to address.  The King’s unwillingness to correct the problems encountered by the colonists mounted till corrections had to be made.  The King refusing to address the problems worsened the situation for the colonists by adding additional laws, tariffs and taxes onto the backs of the colonists. 

A once loved King George III became a tyrannical leader.  The U. S. Founding Fathers attempted to redress the situation through every legal avenue they had available.  This eventually led to a hardening of positions on both sides which in turn led to the Revolutionary War.

Life under an Ineffective Government Charter

The colonies after cutting ties with England established a charter the Articles of Confederation to administer the duties, obligations of the thirteen colonies as well as conducting the war.  The Articles of Confederation were found to be ineffective not providing sufficient authority to the central government. 

The Articles of Confederation were dependent upon the colonies relinquishing authority over their territory.  The colonists as well as their colonial governments were unwilling to give the central government sufficient authority to effectively govern the thirteen colonies.   In spite of these deficiencies the Colonists were able to win the Revolutionary War.   George Washington credited the colonies performance in the war to acts of Providence.

The colonists lived several years under the limited authority of the central government governing using the Articles of Confederation charter.  This allowed the colonists to understand the disadvantages of life under a government that did not possess sufficient authority to effectively rule.  Living under these two extremes the Founding Fathers knew the disadvantages of both governmental entities.  The Founding Fathers historical experience allowed them to create a comprehensive document designed to protect the rights of the people.

The Founding Father’s Constitution

Life under the rule of the King taught the colonists to fear absolute control.  Whereas life under the charter of the Articles of Confederation taught the Founders that a central government must have certain powers and authority to be able to govern properly.  Faced with these two opposing positions the U. S. Founding Fathers undertook the creation of the United States Constitution.

Checks and Balances

The Founders were fearful that a central government over time would increase its authority and control over the people established sets of checks and balances to limit the ability of the central government to morph into a tyrannical government without the approval of the States and the people.  To protect the rights and freedom of the people checks and balances were established.

Thomas Jefferson believed that the government at the State level, being closer to the people, would provide the people with greater representation.  By balancing the authority of the national government with the combined powers of the States the powers of the national government are limited.  In this manner the powers of the Federal government are balanced between the States and the Federal or central government. 

Though the power of the Federal government was now balanced the Founding Fathers were still fearful that the central government could still develop into a tyrannical government body.   Further checks were established to limit and restrict the ability of the central government from acquiring additional authority and power over the people. 

Among the checks three entities of the national government established branches with specific duties and responsibilities.  Each branch had VETO authority over the other branches.  The bi-camel congress was given separate distinct responsibilities.  A bi-camel congress was established to represent their segment of the controlling government bodies.  The Senate was to defend the State’s rights whereas the House of Representatives were to represent the people.  It is this VETO authority that provides the checks to an out-of-control Federal government.

States Rights

The Federal government’s authority and powers are derived directly from the States.  The States were placed between the Federal government and the people.  In this way the States are a “Wall of Political Protection” protecting the rights and freedom of the people.  To accomplish this control authority the States were provided with Senators that would be under direct control of their State legislature. 

The U. S. Senators were to report directly to their State legislature to determine the response the Senators should or should not take at the Federal level of government.  The U. S. Senators were appointed by their States legislature.  The Senators were subject to the dictates of their particular State’s legislature.  In this way the States could protect the States authority as well as protect the freedom of its citizenry from infringing power of the Federal government. 

The House of Representatives was established to represent and protect the people of their state.  The House Representatives were elected by their state’s registered voters.  The House Representatives served subject to the dictates of the people.

Founding Fathers

The Founding Fathers established the separation of powers along with the redundancy of checks and balances so that the unalienable rights and freedom of the people could be adequately protected.  The Founders were so fearful of the possibility that the central government would morph over time to become tyrannical that the Bill of Rights was added to the Founding Fathers constitution. 

The Bill of Rights established the specific restrictions dictating the limits that were to be placed on the Federal government.  It was only with the addition of the Bill of Rights to the constitution that all the Founders got on board willing to accept the Founding Fathers constitution as the official governing document.  The Founders constitution was completed in 1787 and enacted in into the law of the land in 1789.

The Law by Frederic Bastiat

The Law was first published in French in 1848.  The book was written in response to a socialist movement that was occurring at the time of publication in France.  Though the book was written 170 plus years ago, the book is as relevant today as it was when the book was first published. 

Frederic Bastiat in a short 70 pages provides a fully comprehensive argument for protecting freedom, liberty as well as the law from social engineers.  Bastiat utilizes “The Law” to support his argument of individual right to legal defense. 

Though the book can easily be read in an hour to fully comprehend the books premise along with the principles contained therein requires time to ponder the concepts and ideas presented.  This book “The Law” is packed with eye-opening information making the book invaluable to understanding man’s rights. 

Frederic Bastiat

Frederic Bastiat was a French author, economist and law maker.  As an author Bastiat had written several books on economics.  Many of these books are still prized for their contribution to free market economics.  His pamphlet “The Law” is highly prized today for its comprehensive treatise on the purpose of law to protect man’s unalienable rights. 

Bastiat was ill when he wrote “The Law”.  He died a year after its publication.  Bastiat was a French patriot concerned that the valued things of the society he cherished and loved were being allowed to disintegrate

Bastiat uses “The Law” to argue that law is force utilizing government authority.  He calls legal plunder specialty groups desiring advantages over groups currently not in power.  Bastiat felt that society would be better off with fewer leaders along with our fellow beings seeking control over their own actions.  The Law describes how as citizens of a free society freedom can be preserved avoiding excessive government creating legal injustice.

Recap

This book is a must read for anyone desiring to understand freedom, liberty along with the proper role of government required to protect man’s unalienable rights.  Reading “The Law” will alter your present assumptions about the purpose of government as well as our individual obligation to society. 

The Thomas Jefferson Center highly recommends reading Frederic Bastiat’s treatise “The Law”.  Reading this book will increase your overall understanding of life, liberty, freedom along with the role of government.  This is an important book that every student should be introduced. 

The book is available online as an ebook as well as in a paper back version.  

Free Market Economics

Long before Karl Marx the American Pilgrims experimented with socialistic practices in the hopes of creating a fair just society.  The pilgrim settlers had contracted with their merchant-sponsors in London for their passage and supplies to the new world.   The pilgrim’s had established the socialistic program that was initially followed only to be replaced by a free market economics system after the first year.

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Experiment with Socialism

The contract they obligated themselves to in London required products of their labors to be shared equally among everyone in the community.  Their first year in the New World was difficult nearly half of the pilgrims died of sickness, exposure to the elements or starvation. 

The following spring the native Indians taught the pilgrims how to farm, fish and hunt.  With this newfound knowledge the lives of the pilgrims improved however they were still unable to prosper at their new venture of life in America. 

The pilgrim’s contract with their merchant sponsor called for everything to be held by the entire community.  The community proceeds were to be distributed equally among the community members.  No one in the community owned anything.  The initial pilgrim settlement was established as a commune. 

The pilgrims understanding their survival needs for the second winter in this new wilderness devoted only the labors that were required of them.  Their newly acquired knowledge and skills helped them to survive but not prosper.   The community members were not willing to labor for another man’s benefit.

The pilgrims led by William Bradford decided to scrap the social experiment established in their original contract with a system that rewarded individual industriousness and creativity.  The surviving pilgrims were allowed to own property along with enjoying the benefits of their labors.  The pilgrim colony then began to flourish.  The community was able to repay their sponsors in London.  The pilgrims had discovered that free market economics which rewards personal efforts works benefiting everyone in the community. 

Free Market Economics Results in Wealth for the Poor Upward Mobility

For free market economics to function property ownership must be recognized.  Allowing people to benefit from their own labor creates incentives producing overall economic development.  Over the last 100 years free market economics has been instrumental in reducing poverty along with increasing life expectancy than man had experienced in the previous 5,000 years.  Though these benefits have been real we have not had a totally free market economics system to fully function as government has been allowed to encroach on man’s unalienable rights and freedom.

The United States Constitution was established to protect the rights and freedom of its citizens.  Protection of the unalienable rights and freedom has allowed the free market economics system to not only benefit the citizens of the United States but the population of the entire world.  It was the guarantee of freedom provided by the Founding Fathers Constitution that has unleashed this creativity and development world-wide.   Men will put forth labor when they know that labor expended will go for their benefit.

Centralized Planning

Under a centralized economic system such as socialism there is a person or committee that must decide the number of items that are produced for the societies benefit.  How is that decision made?  From where is the data procured that goes into making the decision as to the number of units that is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the overall group? 

There is no source where this information can be found as society is in a continual change.  Therefore the decisions made at the central planning level are always incorrect.  There are either too many products produced or there are too few. 

If you were a government employee with the job of deciding how many products were to be produced which option would you choose; producing too many or too few.  Under socialism or a centralized planning model there are always too few products produced for the masses as it is safer to have a demand for more than to have produced too much.

Allowing People to Decide or Decentralized Planning

Under free market economics system the people are free to make the decision as to the numbers of a product that are necessary from one day to the next.  If the supply of a product is insufficient the price of that product increases.  An increase in price invites more people to produce. 

When the supply of a product is greater than the demand for that product the price of the product decreases.  The consuming public makes the decision on a day to day basis as to the number of units that are necessary to fulfill the demands. 

The price system under free market economics determines the overall numbers of products that are available for the consumer.  The people decide what products will or will not be produced and in what quantities the products will be produced. 

Free market economics is the door to creating wealth for the poor.  The price system of a free market allows consumers to determine the use of resources.  The “price system” determines what people can afford, what sells, what gets manufactured.

Our Founding Fathers Constitution

In 1789 a constitution was enacted that guaranteed the rights and freedom of the people would be protected from government tyranny.  This act along with the freedoms to try, to fail, to succeed, including the freedom to possess the benefits of one’s own labor opened up the flood gates for development in the United States and the world.  The enactment of the U. S. Constitution was the first time in the history of man that all the principles of freedom were made available at one time. 

The Majesty of God’s Law

The Majesty of God’s Law was researched and written by W. Cleon Skousen.  Once again Cleon Skousen is able to take a complex subject making it easy to understand.  This treatise focuses on the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution their writings about the research into determining what form of government would best meet the needs of a free people.  Dr. Skousen delves into the principles the Founders discovered that are encased within the constitution.

The Majesty of God’s Law uses the historical events around the Founder’s exploration for a suitable government as a backdrop to fully analyze the principles of good government.  The Founders search for an acceptable government model to emulate included the Bible, Greek, Roman as well as Anglo-Saxon writings and history.  Though the book is historical its primary focus is the principles that guarantee our freedom.

The book is well researched easy to follow and understand.  The Majesty of God’s Law provides an understanding of the principles that foster and support freedom.  This book is a must read for anyone seeking to fully understand freedom along with the safe guards that a government constitutional document must contain in order for the citizenry to maintain freedom.

A Constitution under Attack

From its enactment in 1789 the United States Constitution has been under attack.  Benjamin Franklin after the constitution had been written was asked by a woman stating “Sir, What have you given us”.  Benjamin Franklin replied “a Republic, Madam, if you can keep it.”  That original constitution lasted a mere thirty years before alterations were made.

Dr. Skousen details the events and circumstances that have eroded our original constitution.  Our political party system is NOT part of our original governing constitutional document.  The first president of the United States George Washington was not a member of a political party. 

The Founders saw definite negative consequences from an establishment of political parties.  A mere thirty years later the two political party system was introduced into our governmental operations.  Changes or modifications to the constitution have continued to erode the freedoms contained within the original constitutional document. 

Central Bank

Dr. Skousen uses the historical interactions between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to discuss the principles of a free market money system as well as the threat to the preservation of our freedoms.  Alexander Hamilton was a fervent supporter of a central bank where as Thomas Jefferson was adamantly against any type of a central bank.  George Washington was fearful of national debt and sided with Hamilton.  Cleon Skousen uses this historical event to critic the dangers of a central bank to maintaining the freedoms of the people. 

Unalienable Rights

The Founding Fathers believed that our freedoms are God given.  Historically governments prior to the enactment of the U. S. Constitution did not adequately protect the unalienable rights of the people.  The U. S. Constitution was designed to limit government protecting the freedom of the people from government oppression.

The Majesty of God’s Law

Though “The Majesty of God’s Law” is an easy read, it is not a book you should rush through.  The principles and concepts presented by Dr. Skousen require thought along with personal analysis.  We highly recommend this book as you continue your education in understanding the U. S. Constitution.

The Tale of Two Constitutions – Part 2

In this video presentation, The Tale of Two Constitutions, Dr. Glenn Kimber discusses the difference between the constitutions as established by our Founding Fathers versus the constitution that we are governed by today.  The differences between the two constitutions are quite dramatic.  Many of the problems we face as a nation today are the result of the changes that the people have allowed to transpire by altering the constitution.

A Wise Old Adage

There is an old adage that goes something like this:  “Don’t tear down the fence until you know why it was built”.  Over the years as a people we have allowed our elected officials to make changes to our constitution that has made alterations to the constitution without understanding the full consequences of the change.   These changes through ill advised amendments have eliminated many of the “checks and balances” that were in our original constitution. 

Amendments to the Constitution

Each new amendment to the constitution supersedes everything before it.  Though Article 5 of the constitution provides for the people to be able to amend their constitution great care should be taken when considering amendments.  It is important that changes to the document not alter the “checks and balances” that have been established.

Every citizen of the United States should have an understanding of the constitution that the Founding Fathers created.  Only through knowledge can educated choices be made.  We the people have allowed our political officials to pollute the constitution. 

It is important to remember that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Anyone with power will devote further efforts to increase his power and authority.  The people have allowed our elected officials to increase their powers over the people.   By making changes to the constitution our government officials, as well as judicial body have made procedural moves to enhance their authority and power.

The Constitution as it IS TODAY!

It is common to hear people upset with their elected officials for not adhering to their promises of protecting the constitution.  The elected officials often appear dismayed feeling that they have been actively protecting the constitution.  The problem arises because there are the two constitutions. 

Our federal officials when accepting a position in the federal government must affirm their allegiance to the constitution of the United States of America.  The constitution these elected officials are affirming to protect is the constitution as it is today.  The constitution as created by our Founding Fathers has been altered to the point that the people’s rights and freedoms are no longer protected.

It is therefore possible for an elected official to correctly claim he is working to preserve and protect the constitution.  Often people whom are upset over the actions taken by their elected officials are upset because the constitution they know and understand is the constitution of the founding fathers and not the constitution that we are governed by today.

Healing America By Healing the Constitution

Over the years attempts had been made to heal problems that America found itself afflicted with to only cure that ailment having five other societal ills pop-up.  Most all of the problems that America is undergoing today are the result of alterations made to the founding fathers constitution. 

Thomas Jefferson Center’s answer to healing America is to return the constitutional “check and balances” to the constitution that our founding fathers had originally placed in this great document.  By reestablishing the “checks and balances” problems can be corrected without creating additional societal problems. 

The Tale of Two Constitutions – Part 2

Dr. Kimber uses this video to explain the two constitutions as well as the constitution that we have today.  He then provides an answer to correcting America’s ills and healing the constitution.  I invite you to take a few minutes to view the video.

Either You Believe in Freedom and Equality or You Don’t!

Every question and issue in the domain of current events comes back to the basic question as to whether or not you believe in freedom or not and whether you believe in equality or not.

At the core of this question is whether or not you believe in the three unalienable rights found in the Declaration of Independence:

1. Life
2. Liberty
3. Pursuit of Happiness (Property)

As Frederic Bastiat in “The Law” says “In spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God (referring to life, liberty and property) precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.

“Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.”

Why Study the Constitution along with the U. S. Success Formula?

To answer this question I call upon the great Statesman Thomas Jefferson who had this to say concerning the Constitution:

“We owe every other sacrifice to ourselves, to our federal brethren, AND TO THE WORLD AT LARGE, to pursue with temper and perseverance the great experiment which shall prove that man is capable of living in society, governing itself by laws self-imposed, and securing to its members the enjoyment of life, liberty, property, and peace; and further show, that even when the government of its choice shall manifest a tendency to degeneracy, we are not at once to despair, but that the will and the watchfulness of its sounder parts will reform its aberrations, recall it to original and legitimate principles and restrain it within the rightful limits of self government.”

How can we expect to accomplish this with out at least a basic understanding of the principles of self-government? The Thomas Jefferson Center
classes inspired by the late Dr. W. Cleon Skousen’s Miracle of America Course will walk you through these principles.

Listen to Dr. Skousen tell the story of Eldridge Cleaver, a former Black Panther, as an illustration of the impact of both ignoring these
principles and later embracing them. You’ll also hear Eldridge Cleaver express regret that he was not taught these principles earlier in life.