The Sons of Liberty were a loosely organized group of colonists who played a major role in resisting British rule. Formed in response to the Stamp Act, they united individuals from different colonies around a shared cause. Members organized protests, distributed pamphlets, and encouraged boycotts of British goods. Their actions were often bold but strategic,…
At the heart of the American founding lies a single, daring question: Can a free people govern themselves? In 1776, this was not a rhetorical exercise—it was a real and risky proposition. History offered few encouraging examples. Most nations were ruled by kings, emperors, or entrenched elites. The idea that ordinary citizens could sustain liberty…
The American experiment did not end with independence, nor was it completed with the ratification of the Constitution. From its beginning, the United States was understood as an ongoing project—an experiment in self-government that would require each generation to decide whether it was willing to sustain it. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the central…
One of the most enduring lessons of the American founding is that rights and responsibilities are inseparable. From the very beginning, the architects of the American experiment understood that liberty could not survive on rights alone. Freedom, they believed, required citizens who were willing to accept responsibility for themselves, their communities, and the system of…
The Boston Tea Party was one of the most famous acts of protest in American history, but it is often misunderstood as a reckless or violent event. In reality, it was a carefully planned and highly symbolic action meant to send a clear message about rights, governance, and the limits of government power. The colonists…
One of the clearest themes running through America’s founding documents is a deep concern about concentrated power. The founders did not believe that tyranny arose only from bad people; they believed it often emerged from good intentions combined with unchecked authority. Their experience, their study of history, and their understanding of human nature convinced them…
In the years leading up to the American Revolution, few issues angered the colonists more than the growing burden of British taxes. While the amounts themselves were often modest, the principle behind them struck at the heart of colonial identity. To many colonists, the real issue was not money—it was control. Laws were being imposed…
Self-government was one of the most radical ideas to emerge from the American Revolution. In 1776, the founders declared that legitimate government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. That principle placed extraordinary trust in ordinary people. But it also carried an implicit warning: self-government can only endure if citizens are willing to…
The American Revolution did not erupt overnight. It was the result of a long and complicated journey shaped by growing frustration, broken trust, and repeated attempts at peaceful reform. For many years, the American colonists still considered themselves loyal subjects of the British Crown. They did not initially seek independence. Instead, they hoped their voices…
When Americans think about the United States Constitution, they often focus on the rights it protects. Equally important, however, is what the Constitution restrains. From its very beginning, the Constitution was deliberately designed to limit power—not because the founders distrusted government entirely, but because they understood human nature well enough to know that unchecked power…
