In 1776 we declared our independence from England. In that declaration, we believed a change of government was necessary because our most basic freedoms had been refused.
In 1787 the current Constitution was formed. Seeing that the Articles of Confederation weren't amendable, they started from scratch and created our current Constitution. At its foundation was a system of checks and balances to help maintain the freedoms of its people.
Since this time many of those involved in our early government saw it necessary for a bill of rights. A document to establish what rights the government cannot infringe on, they knowing that the natural course of a government is to take over the freedoms of its people.
In 1789 the Bill of Rights was introduced and by 1791 these rules were then enforced.
These three documents each have a purpose;
The Declaration of Independence, to declare the most basic rights of an individual.
The Constitution, to establish a government to protect and support the rights of an individual.
The Bill of Rights, to restrict the government from invading our individual rights.
Our Founding Fathers were trying to enable us to be successful.
The Declaration of Independence states, "
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
This statement establishes to all that we are all equal, in that though we are born to difference circumstances, that we all have the right to pursue what makes us happy. It doesn't pioneer the idea that life will treat us the same. Some will always have to work harder than others for the same goal. But, what it does do, is it keeps the door of possibilities open to us and allows us to do as we please.
When a government tries to balance out life for everyone, the results can be disastrous. The hardships we face cannot be removed by the government only displaced. When we are removed from our failures, we are also removed from our successes.
"
... to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." It is not the purpose of the government to provide for us, but to secure the rights that have been established in these documents and whenever the government violates this purpose they are overstepping their bounds.
