The US government has made great strides since its inception. Pundits argue that development in the field of legislature outweigh growth in other fields. The argument behind this bold suggestion is that other fields depend on a sound legal framework to function effectively. The veracity of this argument can be established by adopting an approach that emphasizes groups of laws designed by Congress to solve particular problems, such as the marshal plan to rebuild Europe and enhance access to healthcare. The ability of the US government to marshal popular support around issues affecting its citizenry and allies is what has endowed America with great strength than any nation on earth. This essay will chronicle laws adopted by the US government since the time of colonization to understand how the US has triumphed over other countries and promoted individual and civil liberties.
The US nascent history can be traced back to 1606. This is when King James I gave Virginia Company a legal mandate to launch a colony in the US. The company moved quickly and established a settlement around the Chesapeake Bay area. The settlement was named after the monarchy (Foner 3). The reality on the ground turned quite different than expected and the company performed poorly. The governing council elected to admit Captain John Smith in 1607 to deal with the shortage of resources and inhabitants’ problems that made the company perform badly. He adapted draconian measures that subjugated his people and the native inhabitants alike and most of his subjects estranged him due to his authoritarian leadership. It is the aversion to dictatorial leadership that sets the US apart as the close-up look of US history during this period would reveal.
The fall of Captain John smith saw the rise of Captain Christopher Newport in 1608. We are told that Newport adopted a leadership style that was a complete reverse of his predecessor. He coerced no one to work, but everything was done based on mutual agreement. We are reminded that 30 to 40 of his men did more in a day than 100 men who had been put under forced labour (Foner 7). Great US leaders have embraced this timeless truth that is based on liberty and free will and moved forward to adapt this principle across the board to create a strong country and institutions.
The events that transpired during the 1763-1783 American Revolution further bolster the US quest for the establishment of fundamental freedoms as its basis of strong governance. A case in point is the 1765 Stamp Act imposed on the colonists by Great Britain. The colonists staged a revolution to demonstrate the unfair dealings of Great Britain with the colonists. The colonists advocated for the establishment of fair laws to regulate trade between the colonists and the monarch. Again, the settlers detested relationships based on dictatorial terms and this advocacy for fair treatment of people based on equal rights and laws is what makes the US an outstanding nation to this day though it is failing miserably on some fronts such as racism and minority rights.
Space constraints limit our ability to extrapolate all the developments during this period that prove the US is very keen on safeguarding individual and civil rights. In summary, legislations like the 1833 American Anti-Slavery laws that led to the abolition of slavery speak volumes in this regard. The US has effectively established universal suffrage rights during the same period that allowed all women to vote so their political rights can be well represented in Congress. The US continuously adapts to realities on the ground and pursues legal measures to address inequalities and safeguard civil liberties. Corporate interests and far-right politics threaten to undermine this virtue by seeking to reverse gains accumulated over centuries just to satisfy the desires of some conspiracy theorists.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. W.W. Norton and Company.