"... To promote the general welfare ..."

At the end of the War for Independence, the United States was in a difficult economic position. Its resources were drained, its credit shaky and its paper money was all but worthless. Commerce and industry had come to a virtual halt and the states, and the government of the Confederation, were deeply in debt. While the people were not in danger of starving, the prospects for economic development were slim indeed.

One of the first tasks facing the new national government was to put the economy on a sound footing. The first article of the Constitution provided that: “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes... to pay the debts and provide for the . . .general welfare of the United States ...”

The tax power enabled the government to finance its war debts and to put the currency on a firmer basis. A Sec­retary of the Treasury was appointed to look after the fiscal affairs of the nation, and a Secretary of State to handle relations with other nations. Also appointed were a Secre­tary of War and an Attorney General and later — as the country expanded and the economy became more complex — the well-being of the people necessitated the creation of additional departments.

" . . . To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity ..."

The emphasis on personal liberty was one of the salient features of the new American republic. Coming, as many of them had, from a background of political or religious sup­pression, the Americans were determined to preserve free­dom in the New World. The framers of the Constitution, in giving authority to the federal government, were careful to protect the rights of all persons by limiting the powers of both the national and state governments. As a result, Ameri­cans are free to move from place to place, make their own decisions on jobs, religion and political beliefs, and go to the courts for justice and protection when they feel these rights are being infringed.