The Revolutionary War and Governance
March, 1770. Boston. British troops fired on unarmed citizens protesting multiple taxes,
killing 5. Known as the Boston Massacre, some believe these were the first shots of the
Revolutionary War.
September, 1774. Philadelphia. First Continental Congress. Delegates adopt the
Declaration of Personal Rights and denounce Taxation Without Representation. They
petition the British Crown for a redress of grievances, and call for a boycott of British
goods. The Revolutionary leaders also sought to eliminate Tories or Loyalists from old
militias. They started planning for the form of governance of which they would build on.
April 19, 1775. Lexington and Concord. More commonly known as the
First Shots of the Revolutionary War than those shots by the British in Boston. Here, the
militias confronted the British troops in a more organized manner.
July 4, 1776. The 2nd Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence
stating the need to dissolve the political bands and declare the causes which impelled
them to the separation. Also stating the history of the present king, of repeated injuries,
and having established an absolute tyranny over the states. “To prove this, let the facts
be submitted to a candid world.”
November 15, 1777. The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the
first constitution.
May, 1787. Four years after victory in the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional
Convention assembled to revise the Articles of Confederation. Mid-June, delegates
decided to redesign the government. After three days of debate, the original Constitution
was signed. The new document limited power of the central government and left powers
up to the thirteen free and independent states.
December, 1791. The Bill of Rights ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution,
giving more rights to the people and limiting the government. Giving the people the right
to protect those rights with armed force if necessary.
The forefathers of this developing country had a two plan approach.
Plan A: To organize the local militias into an army, prepared to fight.
Plan B: To establish a form of government, a Constitutional Republic, becoming the law
of the land following victory over tyranny.
As we approach the November 5, 2024 election, some are questioning the future of these
United States. Looking again at two plans.
Plan A: Many are calling this election a battle and are hoping a Trump and congressional
victory will save us. Some think politicians and courts will save us, and others, only a
civil war.
Plan B: Whatever the battle may be, there will be a need for governance. There are those
calling for the “saving of their democracy”, which was not the intention of the founders.
Their plan was a Constitutional Republic.
The Restoration War and Governance
Any battle will need to be for the restoration of this nation in full compliance with the
founding documents.
Who will be able to carry out that restoration? Present day politicians, lawyers, courts, or
an educated citizenry, able to conduct governance of their local counties, states, and
control the workings of a Federal government within the framework of the original
Constitution?
David A Myers