American Independence Day

[tangaroa]

Today is July 4, Independence Day in the United States. We can celebrate not only the independence of the United States but the birth of modern Republicanism, the revolutionary notion of rule by expert representatives approved by the people.

Until the point of the American revolution, governments had been headed by individual rulers who claimed to be appointed by God. The only liberalizing factor were the periodic alliances of wealthy barons who conspired against the monarch for personal gain. Britain was perhaps the most liberal exception of the time, having an elected House of Commons that had at one point revolted against the King, but the head of British government remained the King, under God.

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America turned that millennia-old notion on its head. Instead of seeing the monarchy as a God-given authority, the Americans declared instead that the people had God-given rights, that governments rightfully exist only to protect these rights, and that the people may rightfully overthrow any government which infringes upon their rights.

In time, the American rebels developed a new form of government that relied on no King and no God but drew its authority from "We, the People". Since then, the American idea of Republicanism has swept the world and become the new norm. I think the world is better off for it.