The Founding; the Principles

The principles that went into the founding of the USA are influential in its success. For this country is still young, only being free and independent for a little over 200 years. In those years, it has risen to become a country of freedom and a land of opportunities.

The founding fathers based the country's government on Christian principles that this nation, under God, would provide a home, a refuge, and a land of freedoms to all. A place where all men would be considered equal, where the individuals would make up the economy. These are the just some of the founding principles:

Freedom. "Liberty is responsibility. That is why most men dread it," George Bernard Shaw said. Democracy is also "a system of self-determination," as put by John Patrick. And this freedom does not allow all people to do as they please to the extent of hurting others - that goes against the principles of freedom set up by the founding fathers. As said by Epictetus, "No man is free who is not a master of himself."

The citizens of the USA are granted, among others, these freedoms: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Assembly and Petition, were the first written amendments of the Bill of Rights.

Religion. One important aspect in the founding of the country are the principles and rights of religion. The people of the USA have the right to worship in one's own way. There are no rules on religion, and it is against the US constitution to develop a single state religion. Everyone is free to worship the way in which they choose, and to teach their children and instruct them in their beliefs.

"I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it," as said by Voltaire, shows the importance of Freedom of Speech to the United States of America. And as put by Henry Ward Beecher, "Free speech is to a great people what winds are to oceans and malarial regions, which waft away the elements of disease and bring new elements of health; and where free speech is stopped, miasma is bred, and death comes fast."

The freedom of the press does not mean government controlled newspapers. It means the people's right to inform, say their opinion, and provide news. If this freedom is in the least violated, than this freedom does not exist. "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost," Thomas Jefferson, founding father.

The startling and yet exciting reality of this country is its opportunities in contrast to other nations.

The freedoms of the USA and the principles on which they were established are the basis for many of USA's rights, qualities, and opportunities.

Economy. This economy was set up so that individuals can prosper in a free market system. This allows men to work for their own bread. This principle was first used in America when the settlement of Jamestown was made when English explorers had come to America in hopes of a better living. The small settlement began to fail, as workers became lazy and the well being of the small town deteriorated. Captain John Smith then told the settlers to work for their own bread, or in other words, not depend on others but use what they have, and work for it. This saved the settlement from starvation.

Individuals make up USA's economy. "The worth of the state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it," John Stuart Mill notably said.

The reasons and necessities for the US economy can be effectively expressed by Samuel Gompers. This economy was founded for "the necessity of workers to protect and defend themselves from encroachment, injustice and wrong.to protect the workers in their inalienable rights to a higher and better life; to protect them not only as equals before the law, but also in their rights to the product of their labor; to protect their lives, their limbs, their health, their homes, their firesides, their liberties as men, as workers, as citizens; to overcome and conquer prejudice and antagonism; to secure them the right to life, and the opportunity to maintain that life; the right to be full sharers in the abundance which is the result of their brain and brawn, and the civilization of which they are the founders of and the mainstay; to this the workers are entitled."

Justice. The US justice system, all citizens are promised the right to trial by jury. All people are considered innocent unless proven guilty.

The history of the USA shows the people's amazing dedication through their fight for freedom. It is now a thriving independent country, and a land of opportunities.

---->On to USA's Past Decade