Constitution paper

I wrote a paper about the Constitution for a contest, and this morning I found out that I won second place! I was, of course, shooting for the $1000 first prize, but whatever. I'm pretty excited. I won a $500 scholarship and a plaque or something. I think that my paper will be published in our local newspaper too. I could be wrong though, so I'll keep you posted. Anywho, here is my essay. I thought it was really great after I wrote it, but I just read it again and realized that it was kind of second place-ish. Oh well. :)


Will We Defend It?

The winter spent at Valley Forge was one so cold, helpless, and so destitute, we can only imagine it. The American army was determined to conquer the British, even if it meant waiting out a miserable winter. With ragged clothing and few blankets, the soldiers had to survive the cold months. Their families and the comforts of home were far away. Only primitive huts sheltered them from the freezing wind. Each soldier received one small portion of bread and water every day. Sickness prevailed. Feet and hands froze. Depression and despair were common companions to every man. And yet the Americans courageously endured this winter and with Providence’s help, ultimately triumphed.
This is only one small instance of bravery shown by American soldiers. Throughout the history of our country, men have left bloody tracks in the defense of our land and freedom. The dates, places, and stories of these times of heroism are taught, but do we do them justice? The brave men and women of our military do not put their lives on the line to be talked about; they do it to defend our land and liberty. How are we as citizens defending our Constitution? To be true defenders of our Constitution, we must learn what it is, respect the fundamental principles it is based on, and do our part to spread knowledge of the Constitution.
How can we defend and respect that which we do not know? Since childhood, we have been taught that our government is divided into three separate branches, and that the Constitution functions on a system of checks and balances. Such basic knowledge is important, but it’s not enough. A thorough knowledge of the Constitution is vital to maintaining peace and correct government. George Washington said, “Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness” (qtd. in Parry, Allison, and Skousen 539). Our elected leaders are expected to have a detailed knowledge of the Constitution, but they are not the only ones with this responsibility. The Founding Fathers created a unique system of government that gave the power to the people. We may think that corrupt government stems from corrupt leaders, but who elected them? We did. If we know and understand the Constitution, we can avoid mistakenly electing people with unconstitutional political ideas.
Our Constitution is unique not only because the power is given to the people, but also because it rests on a deeper foundation than the ideas of men. The Founding Fathers searched their hearts, the Bible, and studied ancient civilizations (Skousen 15). They found four fundamental principles that a lasting government must be built on.
The first principle is the existence of natural law. The Constitution is based on the belief that there is a God and that He has established a natural order. Based on this principle, the Constitution acknowledges that God has established a place and order for things and people on the earth. One of the most important building blocks of our nation is the concept of unalienable rights; this concept is built upon the principle of natural law.
The second principle branches off the first one. The Constitution is founded on the principle that the people of a free country must be moral and virtuous. The Founding Fathers trusted us to use our freedom and power wisely. They believed that we would do what is right and good. Benjamin Franklin said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters” (qtd. in Parry, Allison, and Skousen 496).
Third, the Constitution acknowledges the people as the true rulers of a republican nation. Only under a government that rests in their hands can a people be truly free. Our freedom comes from the fact that each citizen of our nation holds an equally important role in the government. James Madison wrote, “The ultimate authority, wherever it may be found, resides in the people alone” (qtd. in Parry, Allison, and Skousen 497).
The final principle is the assumption that America would have a free-market economy and would protect property rights. John Adams wrote, “ All men are born free and independent, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.” In short, America is a nation where individuals have full freedom to own property and pursue happiness (Parry, Allison, and Skousen 496-97).
These principles are the foundation of our government. At times, politicians get so detailed in their interpretation of the ink on the page that they -and we along with them- lose sight of the spirit and purpose of the Constitution. Knowledge of these principles will help us find the correct solutions to controversial issues.
Once we have learned about the Constitution, the next step in defending it is to share our knowledge. We have the beautiful gift of freedom; this gift comes with responsibility. If we don’t do something today, knowledge of the Constitution will gradually disappear, replaced by the swaying words of the media. Even now, many people rely on what they hear on the television, internet, or radio, for their knowledge of the government. The only way to correct the sliding morals of the government is to arm ourselves with the original document penned by the Founders.
The future of our country may seem bleak. We are in the midst of swirling doubts and disturbing news. But the Founding Fathers didn’t expect our nation to be perfect. They knew challenges would come and blood would be spilled to defend our freedom. But they also knew that Americans are strong. They knew that with a Constitution based on fundamental principles, we could rise from anything. Knowing this, and trusting us to embrace freedom and responsibility, they created a government that rests in each citizen. That government has survived, as they hoped it would. The future of the Constitution has been placed in our hands. Will we defend it?