Founders and Progressives

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The Founders and the Progressives both have different views about human nature, the purpose of government, and the nature of government. The Founders viewed that all men are created equal, and to secure the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights governments are instituted among men. The people have the right to change or abolish it, and make a new government. The Progressives viewed that the people have no permanent rights endowed by God, only changing rights by having a strong government that protects individual rights and property. According to Document A, the Founders viewed that all men are created equal, and all their rights are endowed by their Creator. While, the Progressives viewed that their Creator did not give their rights. A strong government was the only thing that protected people’s rights. In Document C, by James Madison, he said that if men were angels, no government would be necessary. The fact is that we need a government because men aren’t angels. This is saying the U.S. needs government to protect the rights of men because no man is an angel. It is just human nature, not every person is going to do the right thing. Government is a reflection on human nature because you have to depend on people and government is after all made of men. The purpose of government is to protect the individual rights of its citizens. The Founders believed in the Constitution more than the Progressives. The Founders viewed the Constitution as the answer to everything, while the Progressives did not. They leaned toward other things to create government. In Document D, James Madison mentions that the protection of faculties is the first object of government. There will always be differences among people, but the government’s purpose is to protect these differences. Document H says that the Progressives thought that the
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