In today’s education system and political conversation, a lot of noise gets in the way of truth. We hear experts, commentators, and even textbooks telling us what the Founders meant. But what about what they said?
Phyllis Schlafly, one of America’s fiercest defenders of the Constitution, made it her mission to equip everyday Americans with the tools to understand our government and heritage. She believed one of the best ways to do that was to go back to the original documents. Her advice was simple: read the Founders for yourself.
And here’s the good news—you can. You don’t have to travel to Washington or hold a history degree. Thanks to the National Archives and other online resources, thousands of original writings—letters, essays, and speeches—are available for free. You can read George Washington’s personal correspondence, Thomas Jefferson’s views on liberty, and James Madison’s reasoning behind the Constitution.
These are not dusty relics from a forgotten time. They are vibrant, urgent messages from the people who risked everything to create a new kind of nation. Their words can teach us, warn us, and inspire us. And they offer a much-needed contrast to the revisionist versions of history we so often hear today.
Here’s what happens when you read the originals: you realize how much faith they placed in virtue, in reason, and in the people, in Almighty Providence. You see the founders commitment to self government, religious freedom, and personal responsibility. These weren’t abstract theories—they were real convictions, forged in war and guided by deep spiritual and moral belief.
When we understand the source documents, we are no longer dependent on interpretations that suit modern agendas. We are equipped to stand up for freedom and to hold our leaders accountable—not based on opinion, but based on truth.
So here’s a challenge for you this week. Go read the Declaration of Independence. Read the Constitution. Then read the Federalist Papers. And don’t stop there—explore the letters, the debates, the diaries. These are our heritage. These are the blueprints of the American experiment.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/constitution/get-our-founders-source-documents/
Phyllis Schlafly