Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

American Creed, William R. Tharp

Agora

This essay examines the American Founders’ convictions about government as expressed through key documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the Constitution. The goal of this paper is to answer two fundamental questions on behalf of the architects of the American state: Who should rule and what is the main purpose of government? In answering these questions, this analysis also probes into the unique amalgam of both ancient and contemporary political theory that influenced the decisions and opinions of the Founders. Ultimately, this essay highlights their support of a limited republican government run by the …