By WIN GRUENING

On July 4, 1776, one year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, church bells rang throughout Philadelphia. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, had just signed the document that later became known as the United States Declaration of Independence.

More than a decade later, after the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked (so the story goes) what kind of government the Founding Fathers would have created behind closed doors in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer – a republic or a monarchy. The venerable Franklin, then in his eighties, replied, “A republic, if you can maintain it.”

By definition, in a pure democracy, laws are made by the majority of voters. In a republic, on the other hand, laws are made by popularly elected representatives and the rights of minorities are protected. As many political leaders and the media continue to put partisanship above patriotism, Franklin's warning is still relevant today.

Of the 70 delegates chosen to represent the Constitutional Convention of 1787, only 55 attended the proceedings in Philadelphia, and records show that no more than 46 of them were present at any one time. Several of the 41 delegates assembled on signing day did not support the Constitution as written. Despite several speeches asking for their signatures, none of the objectors changed their minds.

In the end, there were 39 signatories to the US Constitution. The signed document had no legal status. The Constitution only became official after nine of the thirteen states decided to ratify it. The challenge was to convince Americans to
People should embrace the idea of ​​a constitutional republic in which citizens are represented by elected officials sworn to protect their interests.

The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Some states opposed the Constitution because it did not protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. A compromise was then reached, with proposed constitutional amendments to remedy this problem.
would follow. Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina then ratified the Constitution with the consent of the ninth state, New Hampshire, on June 21, 1788.

This makes the US Constitution one of the oldest constitutions still in force in the world. Ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were fully ratified on December 15, 1791.

Since then, 17 amendments have been added (Prohibition was repealed in 1919). Two of the most important amendments were the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. “To preserve it,” or to preserve, perfect, and continue the American democratic republic, has always been the overriding concern of America's greatest leaders.

Our Founding Fathers believed in adhering to the universal principles of equality, liberty, and limited government, as well as the virtues of thrift, self-reliance, and a strong work ethic. They believed that these characteristics would distinguish our constitutional republic and bind Americans together, regardless of their background.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, this noble ideal sometimes seems to be forgotten in the face of the political turmoil we face today. Amid all the cries that “democracy is on the ballot” in this election, Americans know better. Our
The Founding Fathers created a representative form of government that will weather this storm and all those that follow. Most Americans, and Alaskans in particular, are smart and resilient people who understand that it is not a president or an administration that decides what freedoms apply. It is our constitutional protections and the consent of the governed expressed through our elections that determine whether we “keep our republic.”

The Fourth of July celebration is an opportunity to celebrate the freedoms Americans enjoy and to express our gratitude to America's Founding Fathers. America is not perfect, but it always strives to correct its past mistakes to fulfill its promise of equal rights and opportunity for all.

At a time when some Americans, especially younger generations, focus primarily on our nation's failings, this Fourth of July should be a day to honor all that is good in our country.

After retiring as senior vice president of commercial banking for Key Bank in Alaska, Win Gruening became a regular columnist on the Juneau Empire's opinion page. Born and raised in Juneau, he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is active in a variety of local and statewide organizations.