Guts and Fortitude!

We’re thinking about the people who populated this land that became known as America and finally created the United States.

Many of them did not know where they were going, whether they would live through the transatlantic ordeal in the “skiff” on which they embarked, or if they could survive once they arrived.

Could it be that the “love of freedom” and the willingness to sacrifice almost everything to secure it was at the root of their decision? Certainly they did not think in terms of “building a business and reaping great monetary rewards”. Many felt persecuted for their religious beliefs. The motivation inspired them to pick up whatever belongings they had or could carry and venture off to an unknown continent where they didn’t even know if they could survive, let alone that they would arrive there safely.

Yet, come they did. By the thousands. They sought “freedom of religion” not “freedom from religion”. They sought security in their persons and possessions. Note the clause in the Constitution about seizure, warrants and the taking of property without due process of law. (See Amendments I and IV)

They sought “freedom of speech”. They did not fear critical comments or disagreements. In fact, it appears that they welcomed them. The pamphlets, letters of correspondence, public assemblies and other acts of defiance toward their “oppressors” reached the boiling point prior to the outbreak of hostilities that became a war for independence. (See Amendment I)

They had a genuine mistrust of government. This was the result of the arbitrary laws and taxes imposed upon them as colonies of Great Britain. Under the feudal approach many were considered more slaves than citizens. Some countries, notably Britain, were making strides in the direction of more freedom for their citizens. However, the fact remained that the government in the person of the King, dictated the rules and set the taxes.

The colonials exhibited a strong sense of independence and self-reliance. They did not look to, nor expect, assistance from government. They espoused what became a Jefferson axiom, “that government is best which governs least”. They looked to themselves and their neighbors in time of need. A well known example are the “barn raising events” that were common during the early days.

Despite the hardships they encountered once here, they stuck it out. There appears to be little evidence of any “giving up” and attempting to return to their mother country. They exhibited a high degree of determination, particularly when you consider that almost every one of them was starting from scratch with only those possessions they were able to bring with them.

There was a strong pioneering spirit and a willingness to confront all obstacles. Few may recall that a number of the early settlements in this land were essentially socialistic. All members of the particular group were expected to “serve the good of the whole”. That approach proved a disaster and the settlers abolished it early on, substituting “individual property rights” versus communal. The new approach was not only successful, it taught the colonials a lesson they never forgot. (See Amendments IV and V).

To paraphrase Ben Franklin, “America spawned a new breed, a heartier more resilient group of people who needed a new nation.”

Yes, those who came first and populated this country were a breed apart. They stood on their own two feet, were totally independent and pursued their desires without interference from a government. Do we today have individuals with the same guts and fortitude as our forbears? It would appear unlikely when you consider that today almost half the population is accepting government handouts. Hardly a sign of individualism and independence.