The American Revolution was unique from every other revolution in history in one profound way: it was not begun by the poor or oppressed, but rather by the wealthy and successful. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence had the most to lose by a revolution. Nothing like this can be found in recorded history.
What kind of vision could fire the souls of the most accomplished and comfortable to face such an impossible task of challenging the most powerful empire in the world? When they declared that they would sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, it was almost certain that they would pay that price. Almost no one in the world gave them a chance of success, so what inspired such brilliant and accomplished people to do this?
Many in history had wanted liberty enough to fight for it. A measure of freedom was sometimes gained, but with every previous revolution the liberty was quickly lost. What made The American Revolution, and the Republic it birthed, different so that it has now been sustained for centuries?
The answer to these questions was summed up by the brilliant French statesman and historian Alexis de Tocqueville by what he called “American exceptionalism.” To be exceptional does not necessarily mean smarter, or even better, but different. America was different than any other place on earth at the time, and The American Revolution was not like any before it or since. Understanding how America is unique is essential to understanding what could birth a government like the world had never seen before, and sustain it for as long as it has.
To continue as a Republic, we must moor ourselves once again to what made and kept it until now. We must recover the depth of vision that the American Patriots had for liberty, which enabled them to prevail against seemingly impossible odds. What was the basis of such a deep and powerful vision?
The American Founders were all influenced by a new wave of political philosophers, John Locke being the foremost. As brilliant and revolutionary as their ideas were, it was not enough. There was a factor added that was essential for elevating it to become such a transcendent vision. This was birthed out of The Great Awakening that had swept through the colonies in the decades preceding the Revolution. It was a revelation of how liberty unlocked the soul of man to worship God in spirit and truth, and how this liberty was essential to becoming what God created us to be.
The American Founders had a deep conviction that God Himself had mandated that men should be free, and that it was a basic duty of all who loved and served God to help set His people free. This was a greater vision than just throwing off British tyranny.
Secular historians have not written of this because the secular cannot understand it. Revisionist historians have sought to bury any mention of the Patriots’ spiritual motivation. Yet, to not understand this is to misunderstand the miracle of The American Revolution and where the wisdom came from to form a Republic that could last.
Our Founders touched the transcendent because they were not just thinking of themselves, their own times, or even their children’s times. They could see far into the future, and they laid out guidelines to help future generations navigate through the opposition, challenges, and crises that they knew would surely come.
The American Founders provided a foundation that could not only withstand the onslaught it faced, but one that continued to be built upon by its future custodians. They built into the framework of this new Republic brilliant methods to correct mistakes and a flexibility to seize new opportunities while maintaining the core values of liberty and justice for all.
Many of these provisions have been removed from our government by activist judges and politicians willing to ignore The Constitution. This has pushed the Republic to the point of tottering on the edge of the precipice of destruction. They must be recovered or we will not last much longer.
Our Founders sailed into uncharted waters, and so they did not have maps for navigating the challenges to come. They understood that they had not just challenged the mighty British Empire, but the foundations of every other government in the world. To do what they did is one of the greatest sociological and political miracles ever, not to mention the military miracles. We can and must learn from them.
The eagle is the national bird of the American Republic. It has been said that the eagle may be the only creature in nature that actually likes storms. They have learned that if they approach a contrary wind at the proper angle, it will carry them higher. This is fitting for our national symbol because every crisis our Republic has faced to date has carried us higher.
So, how do we determine the proper angle to face adversity? Eagles learn from their parents, and we must start by doing the same. Eagles tend to be independent and rarely flock together, but when they do it is one of the most magnificent spectacles in nature. There have been many brilliant leaders in human history, but most stood alone. American history is unique in that it was birthed by the gathering of some of the most extraordinary men in history, all of whom were strong, independent thinkers. That such would gather is remarkable, but that they came into unity with a common purpose makes this one of the truly extraordinary miracles in history.
Our Founders’ uniqueness and strong character caused them to clash, but they were wise and mature enough to work through their differences. This experience allowed them to form a government that would, like them, be a unity of diversity, not a unity of conformity. This was only possible with a true liberty in spirit, one that can only come from the truth that sets us free.
For such an extraordinary group to have lived at the same time, and in the same country, defies mathematical possibilities for coincidence. It could only have been the hand of God. They believed this deeply, contrary to what revisionist historians have tried to make us believe, as we will see.
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“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentleman may cry, peace, peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?
“What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” – Patrick Henry
“Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.” – John Adams
© 2020 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.
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