In an important, & profound, sense of the word, "America" refers to an "Idea", not to a place. Essence of the Idea may be stated, concisely, as "Liberty Under Law", a biblical concept first organically composed in the 1215 Magna Carta (e.g. a King is under Law; "Due Process"; plus Charter of the Forest...private Property Rights). Reaffirmed over 400-yrs, these principles were introduced into North America via the 1606 First Virginia Charter. This major document, (Authorized: 1607 Jamestown+1611 Henricus+1620 Plimouth). along with its "enlargements" of 1609 & 1612, rightly and officially, may be considered as the "Birth Certificate of American Civilization", The 1776-era American War for Independence was a fight to "KEEP" Liberty...not to "get" it! Listed grievance: "taking away our charters". The 1787 Constitution, and 1789 Bill of Rights, were framed as governance with limited powers in order to secure Creator-given Rights for all individual-citizens, who are to be the governed. |