The MAGA Question

When was America ever great?

The first question that needs to be answered is, “What is America?”

“When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.” -Patrick Henry, Founding Father, 1788.[1]

America is the American Revolution. Specifically, the soul of America can be found in the Declaration of Independence (1776).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted.”

The American Revolution began before both the Declaration of Independence and the first battle of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775.

“But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations ... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.” -John Adams, Letter to Hezekiah Niles, February 13, 1818.

The American Revolution did not end in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris nor with the ratification of the Constitution by the free and independent states.

The American Revolution never ended. The Bill of Rights (1791) and the 13th (1865) and the 14th (1868) amendments to the US Constitution were all victories in the American Revolution. There will always be those who wish to deny others their life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. That is why the oath of office is to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Struggling for freedom made America great. Even so, the people and government of America are not perfect. In many ways, the USA of today do not represent the principles on which they were founded.

However, the Revolution can still be won by the irate, tireless minority who made it great.

“It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” -Sam Adams, Founding Father.

[1] http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1786-1800/the-anti-federalist-papers/speech-of-patrick-henry-(june-5-1788).php

[2] https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-6854