Few Americans today would recognize the Continental Union flag, the one flying when the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776. Likewise, most don’t know that the American Revolution began eleven years earlier with the Stamp Act Rebellion, and ended seven years later with the Treaty of Paris. And on this July 4th, few will pause to consider the blood, sweat, and tears shed during those eighteen years—sacrifices that served future generations, i.e. you and me. Lastly, few today understand what made America great in the first place.
Before 1776, most countries were ruled by kings, queens, emperors, czars, shahs, mullahs, sultans, etc. When the Founders replaced one-man rule with self-rule, this change gave all Americans a powerful impulse to act on their dreams and ideas. Independence for the people, not dependence on the king, is what made America great. And we set a rather fine example. Today, many of the world’s economic powerhouses are democracies, generally friendly towards one another and ‘the places to be’. You don’t hear of people sneaking into Vladimir Putin’s Russia or Viktor Orbán’s Hungary in search of a better life.
‘For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.’
Deep in the human psyche, there must be a ‘thing’ for Daddy. But this worship for heads of state has always seemed odd, since disappointment is the usual outcome. The world has become far too complex for the kings of yore, and the limitations of one-man rule should be obvious: while everyone knows something, no one person can recognize, know, consider, and understand everything; no one is immune to mental or physical decline; and no one lives forever.
While the limitations of man is a negative, limitations on man is often a positive … especially where governance is concerned. No leader serves without the temptations to expand his power or profit from his position. Anyone with the ability to do something for you can also do something to you (if you misbehaved as a child, you know what I mean). History also shows that character matters. During the Roman Empire, for every Marcus Aurelius there was a Nero or Caligula. In America, to whom would we grant unlimited power? King Obama? King Biden? King Trump? If it’s ‘yes’ to one, it will be ‘yes’ to anyone.
There was, at one point, the thought of having an American king. Towards the end of the American Revolution, and with King George III on his back foot, another George was petitioned to become America’s first monarch. General George Washington—the man who would be king—firmly rejected this notion (here). By putting country ahead of personal ambition, Washington became the model for civic virtue. It also appears that General Washington was well aware of the complexities of one-man rule (fun stuff here and here). A tip o’ the hat to another George—Mr. George Anson of Austin, Texas—for passing along these humorous ‘takes’ featuring our first president.
Happy Independence Day(s). May they continue.
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