It is important to understand the challenges faced by the Founders in creating our new federal system. As James Madison wrote, "the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”

It is important to understand the challenges faced by the Founders in creating our new federal system. As James Madison wrote, "the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”

To fully appreciate the Declaration of Independence, we must remember these words revolutionized the way not only Americans but also much of the world viewed the role of government and where the right to govern originates.

After the French and Indian War, England’s resources were depleted. Parliament decided to tax the American colonies, as well as revoke some freedoms. The colonists' resistance to these acts yielded no results, and the call was made to draft our Declaration of Independence.

By the mid-1700s, the American colonies had learned to govern and defend themselves. More and more people realized it made no sense for a government thousands of miles away to make decisions for the colonies, especially one that imposed unfair burdens and ignored requests for change.