A Revolution of Sober Expectations

I love the Revolution of Sober Expectations article. I love the point made in the article that it wasn’t just the Revolution, or the Constitution alone that set up America as a free and democratic government, it was both combined. When the founders wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, it was unlike any other revolution in the world. With any other revolution, a new government is immediately put into effect. With the Declaration of Independence, the ideals and rights that the founders deemed important were stated, but a form of government to protect those rights was not formed. It was like a great pause while the world waited with bated breath to see what would happen after the war was over. Finally, with the Constitution, the world could breathe again. Finally a new government unlike any other was created. The Constitution was the second part that made the American Revolution complete. It built upon the rights and principles listed in the Declaration of Independence and set up institutions that would protect and defend these rights. I also find it fascinating that the Declaration doesn’t specifically state what kind of government should be instituted. It simply lays out what rights the people ought to have, and says that the people also have a right to have whatever form of government they choose. It could be any type of government and it would be fine as long as it had the consent of the governed. And that, I think, is the beauty of America. It’s not that our government is absolutely perfect, because it’s not. It’s that it’s all focused on the people. The people’s unalienable rights, and their right to choose a government that they feel will best protect those rights.