Although we generally refer to that list of abuses in the Declaration of Independence as “grievances” - that’s not how they were described in the text. Instead, they were referred to as “usurpations,” or a theft of power from the people. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
The post Declaration of Independence: Usurpation is Treason first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
Bartlett signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was also instrumental in securing New Hampshire's ratification of the Constitution.
The post Today in History: Founding Father Josiah Bartlett Born first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
Few people were more influential on the founders and old revolutionaries than John Locke. And his Two Treatises help us understand how they saw the difference between legitimate government - and the other kind - tyranny.
The post Illegitimate Government: John Locke on Tyranny first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
The “real American revolution” was a radical change in the views of the people. This was reflected in the Declaration of Independence, which was intended as “an expression of the American mind.” And few people, if any, had a greater influence on that thought than Algernon Sidney.
The post Martyr for Liberty: Algernon Sidney and the American Revolution first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
"Treason against the sovereignty of the people" is how St. George Tucker described usurpation - or theft - of power by government. But this view was nothing new - the founders and old revolutionaries had long understood usurpation to be an act of tyranny, even including it in the Declaration of Independence.
The post Theft of Power: Usurpation first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." We’re all familiar with this from the Declaration of Independence, but there’s much more to our natural rights foundation. Learn from the Founders and Old Revolutionaries.
The post Our Natural Rights Foundation first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
While the Orangetown Resolutions only represented a small number of people in a single New York County, they succinctly articulated and cemented the revolutionary principles of constitutional fidelity, restraint of government power, and resistance to usurpation.
The post Today in History: Orangetown Resolutions Passed in Response to the Coercive Acts first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
Government schools never teach this stuff. But the American Revolution - and the War for Independence - were about much more than “taxation without representation.” The Revolution was about unlimited, arbitrary power - complete and total supremacy over the colonies. And the battles started over a British gun control program.
The post Unlimited Supremacy, Gun Control and the American Revolution first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
Caesar Rodney was born in Kent County, Delaware on Oct. 7, 1728. He was a central figure in Delaware's quest for independence from Great Britain.
The post Today in History: Caesar Rodney Dies first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.
One of the grievances in the Declaration of Independence, the founders and old revolutionaries not only rejected the notion of “arbitrary” government, they considered it the definition of a tyranny.
The post Arbitrary Government: How the Founders Defined Tyranny first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.