Ben Lenhart

Patriots fought the America Revolution for many reasons, not least of which was an intense desire to escape the rule of a distant king—George III. In fact, Americans were so opposed to the idea of a king that they didn’t include an independent president in the government created under our first constitution—the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became apparent that a government without a president or comparable leader was insufficient for the needs of the new and growing America. Many, including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton (see for example the Federalist Papers #70) came to believe that a strong president was needed to “take the reins of government,” enforce the laws, and help steer the country forward. With its many flaws, the Articles of Confederation lasted less than 10 years before being replaced by our current Constitution.

Freedom of Speech: No right is more fundamental to the very idea of what it means to be an American. Liberty is at the heart of the Constitution, and freedom of speech is at the heart of liberty. The right to “speak your mind”—even if that means strongly criticizing our political leaders or their policies—is more entrenched and protected in the U.S. than in most other countries. This article looks at the history of free speech and where we stand today.

By Ben Lenhart             In today’s world, the Constitution is more relevant than ever, with almost daily headlines in many