The Constitution and its Relevance

The Constitution is without a doubt the most important document in our Nation’s history. This is not merely because it sets the standard as to what the government can and cannot do, but because of its social and economical impacts as well. After the colonies officially won the war for independence in 1783, the huge question then became ‘now what’?

It must be understood that when US decided to declare its independence, it was a completely different social structure then what we see today. Even though the main reason for the common man to rebel was the Kings tyranny, the King had no real control of the colonies. The colonies had no real police force like we see today, and obeyed the law more out of respect to the authority of those in higher places then they did out of fear. On the contrary it behooved one to seek Patronage or favor of the English government or other authority if they wanted to become more then a commoner. The little government that was in place at the time had to prove to the people that their patronage and favors were worth the colonist’s obedience. About the only thing both gentry and commoner held in common was how noticeable their slightest actions were. The towns were small, people tended to notice what everyone else was doing, and word spread fast.

In addition, people were accustomed to being governed. When they decided that their local leadership had gone too far, they would briefly riot, and that would be the end of it. It was not an uncommon occurrence, and those authorities found that if they let the people get it out of their system, that things tended to calm down quickly, and things went back to usual. It was very uncommon for any real damage to be done, and therefore the use of force to put an end to these upsets was not only unnecessary, but not worth the cost. In many cases it was actually looked upon as a healthy outlet.

Yet the flaw of this was that eventually, self-interest of those in power would go too far. It became more and more obvious to the people that the authorities were not acting in the best interest of the people on the whole, but rather to themselves or those they favored. As this behavior continued, the people began to get more and more unsettled and ‘unruly’. The practice of ‘impressment’ (the ability of the English army to force a colonist into military service) further served to show the people that they would do as they were told, like it or not. Yet even then the people did not revolt until the English troops attempted to seize their armories, thereby removing their last perceived means of defense. So it came to be that an overtaxed, underappreciated, patronized people saw their last means of protection being threatened, and fought back.

Such were the conditions of our War for Independence, and the basis for which our nation’s founders would envision a means of establishing a new government. For those like Jefferson, self-interested politicians, a debt based economy, a state controlled by force of any kind, and a system that held no reward for any but those favored by authority was unthinkable. For those like Madison, it was important for the colonies to stick together, provide a means of defense, establish common law, and thereby have a unified state. For those like Hamilton, the English already had the perfect system, and it was just abused – simply remove the position of a single head of state, and keep up with the previous system. For those like Adams, it was a mix of Hamilton and Madison that was the Key.

The point is that our Constitution was a very controversial document. Its very creation was a serious debate, and was looked upon as a device to accomplish different things. Jefferson had hoped that it would limit the size and power of the new government, and prevent it from growing to a point where the people could not breathe. He believed that the small government that the colonies had before the war would be sufficient, and that because they no longer had to satisfy the English crown, that people would all strive to make the most of the opportunity to became ‘self-made’ and ‘disinterested’. He believed that the people would use their freedom to grow in both a mental and social aspect. However those like Adams and Hamilton saw Jefferson as an optimist who was naïve as to the ways of men. Adams (being the more disinterested of the two) sought a means to control the people and keep them in line, and therefore a powerful central government was the answer. Hamilton on the other hand wanted more. To him it was not enough to control the people, and therefore wished the new system to be more of a Hierarchy based on Aristocracy.

So today when we hear arguments on what is constitutional and what isn’t we need to remember that those questions are not new. However what we do have, is a 220 year old history of its interpretation – causes and effects. Yet because everyone is so busy wondering about ‘what’s next’, they rarely take the time to reflect upon what has already been done.

For instance, Jefferson’s dream of a free society died before he did. The Constitution was not the limiter he hoped it would be. Even though Hamilton grew disappointed as well, his reasoning was that the system he had hoped for never came to pass either. Though Hamilton had gained power in politics through the position of Secretary of Treasury that far surpassed his fellow members, he never did get to see another Aristocracy born. Madison was disappointed as well. The strong state had not been the defense against the corruption that he had hoped, and he found that government could abuse power just as easily as the common man.

In those days, most people did not have a high level of reading. Even a senator could barely afford a book. Yet as the methods of printing improved, and a number of publishing companies sprang up, people could get a better glimpse of things that they previously were unaware of. During this crucial period, a dose of all-around good morals to those in power and of the presses would have been able to do remarkable good. Instead they chose to make slander, write one sided articles, and shamelessly make their bid for public office. In a nation where gold and other precious metals were rare, political power began to take the place of greed in the hearts of the people. Jefferson watched as the freedom of speech he worked so hard to ensure was turned against him. Paine returned from France to be surprised at the accusation that he was an atheist. Washington shook his head at what politics had become – an abused tool that had lost its honor and was turned to shameless pandering.

The lesson that can be drawn from all this today, is that no document, no matter how well worded or esteemed can maintain the freedom of a nations people. Once a people stop holding both themselves as well as their elected officials accountable, then freedoms cannot be maintained. It is a hard road to say the least, but the rewards are well worth it. If people fail to realize why a mistake happened, and instead chose to use it as a guideline with only a few ‘improvements’, then they will ensure their own fall. Once sound, proven reasoning is replaced by hollow rhetoric, then understanding is lost, and again freedom fails. Once it is believed that one idea is the only way to go, then growth becomes limited. Any strength that a particular form of governance holds can be turned into its greatest weakness when the people allow themselves and their elected officials to grow corrupt.

That having been said, there is only one way for the constitution to regain its power. That is to throw off the misinterpretation that has held it down for so long, and to stop using wordplay to manipulate it to fit a particular agenda. When taken in context with the times it was written, with the Bill of Rights as a guide, it can once again become a tool that builds freedom – not oppression.