Most Important Civic Value To Being An American

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Sam Brockie November 9, 2009 Period 6 Being an American Essay The most important civic value an American citizen should have is responsibility. If our citizens did not have responsibility then America would be plunged into anarchy and chaos. One must possess responsibility and self control if one is to have such freedoms as guaranteed to every American. Responsibility is so important to being an American because the government cannot have complete control over us. If citizens are to be entrusted with such cherished personal freedoms as guaranteed in the constitution, then they must have the responsibility to obey the law and to be productive, lest their freedoms be taken away. Conversely, if American citizens didn’t respect the law and abused their personal freedoms, then the government would be prompted to take their freedoms away. However unlikely that may be, the values that America is founded on are that men are inherently good and can be trusted to take care of themselves and respect the rights of others. One founding father who best embodies the civic value of responsibility is George Washington. As America’s hero from the Revolutionary War and first president, Washington was given many responsibilities for the new nation. As our first president, Washington had many difficult decisions to make with no precedents to turn to for guidance. Many men would have become corrupt or tried to seize as much power as possible if placed in Washington’s shoes, but George was noble and had the responsibility to respect the constitution and do his job to best serve the country. Washington made no attempt to become dictator, to establish a monarchy (though he had no heir), nor to retain power for too long. After his second term he stepped down from president setting a precedent himself. The citizens of America also have the

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