Reviews

Michael Law’s The Founders’ Revolution is a revealing and much-needed retelling of the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the events that led up to it. But this is more than a book of history. Law brings out connections between the reasons for the Founders’ revolt and what’s going on in America today. He shows how our federal government is committing similar wrongs against us today as England’s king and Parliament did to Americans centuries ago. The Founders’ Revolution is a rallying cry for Americans to pay closer attention to their own government’s actions and to hold officials accountable for their decisions against us, the electorate. Pay heed to what Law has to say. We are losing our liberties―and we do not have to!

William D. Watkins, award-winning author; author of The New Absolutes; former director of publications for The American Center of Law and Justice

Michael S. Law has written a carefully considered history of the writing of the Declaration of Independence with analysis of today’s conditions in comparison with the conditions of the time. This is not an overtly political book, though it is unapologetically conservative in its views. These views are based solely on the writings of the founders and on historical documents, not on modern-day concepts of “living documents” commonly applied to the Constitution by those of a more liberal mindset.

One of the things I most appreciated about Law’s writing is his application of analysis based on the context of the time in which the Declaration was written instead of current revisionist thinking that applies 21st-century values, or lack thereof, to the document. I particularly appreciated his handling of the slavery issue in which Law exposed the fallacy of the present-day condemnation of the founders who were locked into a system they abhorred but were unable to change due to laws not of their making that prevented them from releasing the slaves they inherited. Very few today are aware of the anti-manumission laws they opposed. Very few today are aware that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and others petitioned King George to end importation of slaves to the colonies; rather King George was the one who forced their continued importation.

I have a significant library of historical volumes, and I’m most gratified to add this one to my shelves. I know Law’s book is one I will refer to over and over again in the future as I research material for projects at hand.

J.L. Callison, Author

Excerpts

Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, understood the principles Jefferson defined in the Declaration of Independence and acted upon. Before his election to the presidency, Lincoln spoke about the principles of Jefferson and tried to convince others to return to those principles. In 1858, Lincoln spoke in Lewistown, Illinois about this matter. One of the principles established the truth that the Founders designed a system, not for property-owning, rich, white men, but for all humanity. Lincoln said that Jefferson “established these great self-evident truths that when in the distant future some man, some faction, some interest, should set upon the doctrine that none but rich men, or none but white men, were entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, their posterity might look up again to the Declaration of Independence and take courage to renew the battle which their fathers began. … Now, my countrymen, if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur and mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienable rights enumerated by our charter of liberty; let me entreat you to come back. … [C]ome back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence.”

— Chapter 2, pp 26-27

About the Author

Michael S. Law has focused much of his life’s research on the Founding Era and the Founders of the US.

He has a bachelor’s in political science from Boise State University and a master’s degree in political science from American Public University, emphasizing US history and government. He continues to personally study from the writings of the Founders and their history, remaining focused on the Founding principles. He applies his political expertise locally, including involvement in local government through serving on his local school board. He has been married for twenty-four years to his wife, Kaori, and has three children.

Top