Nearly 250 years ago, the greatest experiment in self-government began with seven simple words: “When in the course of human events …”
The founders believed governments exist to protect rights — not grant them. It was meant to be restrained, transparent, and accountable, allowing freedom and opportunity to grow from the bottom up.
That belief stood in direct contrast to the system they lived under, where power flowed from a distant authority, decisions were imposed, and compliance was demanded — a fundamental violation of the principles that safeguard freedom and liberty.
Inspired by a new vision for society, the founders enshrined dignity, the rule of law, freedom, opportunity, civic duty, and limited government in our founding documents.
These principles have unleashed a level of innovation, prosperity, and human flourishing the world has never seen.
Today, as we approach our 250th anniversary, a similar choice confronts us: Will we safeguard the freedoms we’ve inherited for future generations or trade them away in the name of stability?
Every giant leap in our nation’s history began with small, intentional steps taken by everyday people, not centralized plans.
Communities built schools, churches, businesses, and civic institutions long before Washington, D.C., had the capacity to. They took responsibility for educating their children, caring for neighbors, and creating opportunity where none had existed.
Immigrants arrived with little more than ambition and hope. They worked hard, raised families, and strengthened the communities that became their home. Entrepreneurs turned ideas into innovations that revolutionized how the world works.
Watch AFP’s video kicking off the One Small Step campaign by clicking here or on the picture below.
More recently, progress has followed the same pattern. Americans launched new technologies that reshaped daily life, created businesses that expanded opportunity, and lifted living standards at a pace unmatched in human history.
Across generations, the pattern is unmistakable: Progress follows when people step forward, take responsibility, and act.
It is our shared inheritance. And our shared responsibility.
Today, Americans are once again being asked whether liberty should yield in the name of stability.
Power has drifted away from citizens and toward distant institutions that operate with little accountability. And the consequences are no longer abstract.
The nation carries unprecedented levels of debt, placing the freedom of future generations at risk. Government programs created to provide security are barreling toward insolvency. Regulations multiply faster than they can be debated. Temporary measures become permanent. Political leaders postpone reform while promising benefits that cannot possibly be sustained.
These challenges won’t resolve themselves.
Our 250th anniversary is a defining moment.
The founders bet on people — not bureaucracy. They believed progress comes from the bottom up, not the top down. That truth still holds.
Now it’s our turn to safeguard the freedoms that have allowed us to thrive and pass them along to future generations. Begin by signing a modern Declaration of Independence.
But signing is only the beginning. The future of freedom will be shaped by people — united by shared principles and a willingness to act — carrying those principles forward in their communities and beyond.
America is at a crossroads. The choices we make now will define our nation’s future.
Are you ready to reignite the American Dream?
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