American History, Who were the Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were an integral part of the American Revolution and today I fear the role these individuals played in securing our independence from England is being ignored in our educational system.?Our education system today is not what it was in years past and from reports the books being used to teach history tell a different story.?The courage this group of individuals displayed is something we now need in our country.?Courage is the key word.
????The motto of this organization is a familiar term with respect to our principles and our government.?The term used many times before, during and after the American Revolution “no taxation without representation”.?It is hard to imagine a group such as the Sons of Liberty but today many of the principles which gave rise to this group are in place today.?The principles which stirred the movement for independence can be seen in several organizations fighting to protect our constitutional rights many of which are not being protected by our government.
?????The current election results being seen and reported today are much like the atmosphere in place before our country declared independence from England.?Today voters are expressing their anger of the status quo which has been in place within both political parties for years and voters are saying with their votes they want change.?What that change will be after the election in November 2016 remains to be seen.
????The communication between the members of the Sons of Liberty were difficult were difficult but this is not the case today with the Internet.?Comparing the actions and courage of the Sons of Liberty to the events of today is not so difficult in fact there are many similarities. Protecting the rights of the colonists before the revolution and our rights today is just as important.?One distinct difference today from our early days as a country is that we have a Constitution which defines the rights we have as individuals.?The era when the Sons of Liberty were in place no such rights were defined but the people felt they had certain rights many if not all of them found their way in our Constitution.?Our country was found upon the principle of religious freedom among others and when these principles or philosophy were challenged by England the people fought back and eventually won independence from England.
?????Today we have many rules, regulations and laws putting restrictions on our freedoms and just as the British government tried to control the colonists the people rose up to fight back.?The current election statistics is seeing another rise from the public through their votes.?While acts such as the Stamp Act and a tax on tea were decisions which started the process of fighting for our independence the laws and regulations now in place is seeing the displeasure of the voting public.?The term Tea Party as in the Boston Tea Party is being used today by a movement that wants a government working for the people not the people working for the government.?They want a limited government not the expansive one it has become.?
????The impact of the Sons of Liberty and the event referred to as the Boston Tea Party is being felt today.?Our background as a country and the principles on which it was found as a result of a secret organization fighting for the rights we see engrained in our Constitution is playing a role in the current political movement.?The term tea party combined with the use of the term Patriot is seeing a backlash from the media and politicians.?Some individuals have been elected to Congress through the support of tea party organizations and the status quo as it is today is afraid their world will be turned upside down.?Politicians from both sides of the isle are comfortable with the current culture in Congress but the voters have had enough.?Just as the Sons of Liberty stood up to an overbearing government trampling on the rights of the colonists they deemed they had the same stance is now taking place with the decisions of voters.??
????As the British Parliament became more insistent on leveling taxes on the colonies the organization of the Sons of Liberty began to grow throughout the colonies.?Many of the names who were part of this organization though it was an underground movement played an important role in gaining not only in our independence from England but later events in our history.?Several names you may recognize others not so much.?The first name to mention is Samuel Adams.?He founded the Sons of Liberty, organized the Boston Tea Party and signed the Declaration of Independence.?Some of the quotes of this individual are applicable today just as they were in the beginning of our country.?Examples are below:
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“ It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
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How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!
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The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.
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Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty.
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We cannot make events. Our business is wisely to improve them.
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The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.
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Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason.”
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Another individual worth of mentioning is John Hancock.?This is a familiar name it is prominently displayed on the Declaration of Independence.???Some quotes by John are worth noting.?They are:
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Patrick Henry was also involved with the Sons of Liberty and his famous quote will never be forgotten “Give me liberty or give me death.”?One specific quote of Patrick Henry is about our Constitution and the government.?It states:
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“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.”
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Paul Revere is another familiar name involved with the Sons of Liberty and eventually warning the colonists about the coming British before the battle of Lexington and Concord.?The remaining list of names involved with the Sons of Liberty are an example of how individuals not well known to the general public at the time became involved with an organization such as the Sons of Liberty.?It is important to note that without some grassroots support the events in which this organization was involved may never have happened.
Joseph Allicock, African-American who was a leader of the Sons in New York.[15]
Benedict Arnold – businessman, later General in the Continental Army and then the British Army[16]
Timothy Bigelow – blacksmith, Worcester
John Crane – carpenter, Colonel in command of the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment, Braintree
Benjamin Edes – journalist/publisher Boston Gazette, Boston
Christopher Gadsden – merchant, Charleston, South Carolina
John Lamb – trader, New York City
Alexander McDougall – captain of privateers, New York City
James Otis – lawyer, Massachusetts
Charles Willson Peale – portrait painter and saddle maker, Annapolis, Maryland
Benjamin Rush – physician, Philadelphia
Isaac Sears – captain of privateers, New York City
Haym Salomon – financial broker, New York and Philadelphia
James Swan – American patriot and financier, Boston
Isaiah Thomas – printer, Boston then Worcester, 1st to read Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts[19]
Charles Thomson – tutor/secretary, Philadelphia[20]
Joseph Warren – doctor/soldier, Boston
Thomas Young – doctor, Boston
Marinus Willett – cabinetmaker/soldier, New York[21]
Oliver Wolcott – lawyer, Connecticut
After gaining our independence one may have thought their purpose no longer existed but it was far from the case.?The organization was revived in New York City in 1773.?The movement did not stop there as the Sons of Liberty are alive and well in the political world of today much to my amazement.?On the sonsoflibertyproject.org website the principles of this organization are identified and provided below.?The principles with which this organization embodies are an example of their mission to restore constitutional government.?On the website for this organization previously identified there are 28 principles listed. The 28 principles are provided below along with some comments under each of them as provided by the organization.?Following this list I have made an additional comments related to the specific principles associated with our rights under the Constitution and the principles identified below.
1. The Genius of Natural Law
The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.
2. A Virtuous and Moral People
A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
3. Virtuous and Moral Leaders
The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.
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4. The Role of Religion
Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.?
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5. The Role of the Creator
All things were created by God, therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to Him they are equally responsible.
6. All Men Are Created Equal
All men are created equal.
7. Equal Rights, Not Equal Things
The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
8. Man’s Unalienable Rights
Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.
9. The Role of Revealed Law
To protect man’s rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law.
10. Sovereignty of the People
The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
11. Who Can Alter the Government
The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
12. Advantages of a Republic
The United States of America shall be a republic.
13. Protection Against human Frailty
A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers.
14. Property Rights Essential to Liberty
Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right to property is secure.
15. Free-Market Economics
The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free market economy and a minimum of government regulation.
16. The Separation of Powers
The government should be separated into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
17. Checks and Balances
A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power.
18. Importance of a Written Constitution
The unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution.
19. Limiting and Defining the Powers of Government
Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained by the people.
20. Majority Rule, Minority Rights
Efficiency and dispatch require government to operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
21. Strong Local Self-government
Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.
22. Government by Law, Not by Men
A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.
23. Importance of an Educated Electorate
A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.
24. Peace Through Strength
A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.
25. Avoid Entangling Alliances
“Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations: entangling alliances with none.”
26. Protecting the Role of the Family
The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity.
27. Avoiding the Burden of Debt
The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest.
28. The Founder’s Sense of Manifest Destiny
The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race.
The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
Below are comments I have regarding several of the principles identified with this organization many of which are directly connected to our constitutional rights.
2. A Virtuous and Moral People
A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
????We must as citizens and as voters must make decisions which can and do impact the integrity of our country through the decisions or the lack of them by our elected officials at all levels of government.?It is our responsibility to ensure that government is working for us not us for the government based on the decisions they make regarding the laws they create and the regulations that support them.
3. Virtuous and Moral Leaders
The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.
??Electing virtuous leaders is a key responsibility of us as voters.?The term virtuous means to conform to moral and ethical principles.?This principle is appropriate to be a part of this organization as the present state of our country and the decisions being made or not being made by our elected officials.?It raises many questions as to whether they are working for us or their political party affiliation.?
4. The Role of Religion
Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.?
????Freedom of religion is engrained as part of our bill of rights in the Constitution in the 1st amendment.?Today our religious liberties are under attack not only by our government but by the decisions being made within our court system.?The freedom to express our religious beliefs is being impacted by decisions made regarding lawsuits by individuals and groups that do not agree with our beliefs.?They have brought suits to restrict the display of our religious principles such as the Ten Commandments.?Some courts have sided with the individuals and/or organizations bringing such suits while others have upheld the right to display our religious beliefs.?The reason being stated in many if not all of the lawsuits is that they are offended by the display.