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Do you know what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America?

Some terms might ring a bell: republic and democracy; Senate and House of Representatives; judicial, legislative, and executive. But what do they mean for you and your life?

In 1776 the Founders declared the “united colonies” as “free and independent states”:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

We can stand as they did. But first we must learn what they stood for.

Declaration

This extraordinary document ignited an extraordinary revolution.

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Constitution

The Declaration of Independence describes abuses of powers. The Constitution describes a balance of powers.

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Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights.

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Founding Fathers

George Washington

Judge; Member of the Continental Congress; Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army; President of the Constitutional Convention; First President of the United States; “Father of his country”

You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.

George Washington speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs, May 12, 1779, The Writings of Washington, ed. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), XV:55.

While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.

Washington, General Orders, May 2, 1778, Writings, XI:342-343.

The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.

Washington, General Order, July 9, 1776, Writings, 5:245.

I now make it my earnest prayer that God would . . . most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of the mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion.

George Washington, The Last Official Address of His Excellency George Washington to the Legislature of the United States (Hartford: Hudson and Goodwin, 1783), 12; The New Annual Register or General Repository of History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1783 (London: G. Robinson, 1784), 150.

Truth & facts,
not emotion & conjecture.