How and Why We Learn

August 7, 2024:

Why do we need to understand the Declaration and the Constitution?

John Jay: “… to teach the rising generations to be free. By knowing [our] rights we [and our children] will sooner perceive when they are violated, and be the better prepared to defend and assert them.”

How can we best study them?

In the current classes we are

a) providing a “quick start guide” to these vital documents,

b) focusing on the original intent of those who wrote and ratified them,

c) studying them “as amended”, ie, in one coherent rendition with all amendments applied in the correct places, and

d) rendering them in modern language.

What resources are most helpful?

We have extensive notes and letters from those involved. We don’t have to read their minds … they’ve told us exactly what they were creating, and why!

How do we best understand them?

As with any contract in any age, the way to understand these documents is to know the intent and meaning of those who created and ratified them. Jefferson, Madison, Wilson, and Story all admonished us to do exactly that, and not “invent new meanings” as has often been done in the intervening years.

Can ordinary people know what is, and is not, “Constitutional”?

The Constitution was created by ordinary people - farmers, businessmen, engineers, politicians, teachers, soldiers, a shoe-maker … some rich, some poor, some with college degrees and many not … many home-schooled and one with no schooling at all. Their explanations of the reasons for and against every idea were widely published in the newspapers for all the people to understand and consider.

We are all able to decide when it is being violated, and we need to!

Do we need both documents?

The Declaration and the Constitution are deeply connected, and acknowledged in federal law to be two of the four foundations of our law that must be honored and cannot be superseded. So, yes!

Good questions with good answers! Come next week for more!