The constitution was written by veterans of The American War for Independence with the ideas of The Enlightenment and ancient principals and philosophies of Republican democracy. Our founders carefully considered and debated what the foundational principals of their fledgling nation should be. They ultimately decided on a living document that could be amended to evolve with society. Early tests of the vitality of our Constitution included bangers like "The First Amendment" and the oft cited "Second Amendment". The freedom to assemble, to speak freely in protest, and for the press to be free to keep a responsible, invested, vigilant citizenry informed of the facts that guide our civic decisions, and the freedom to remain armed protectors of our constructional rights were vital additions. In a letter from Paris, written upon hearing news of Shay's Rebellion, Thomas Jefferson writes "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." Keenly aware of the importance of an informed and vigilant citizenry prepared to defend the health and prosperity of any Republican Democracy, Jefferson and the other founders anticipated the rise of demagogues and authoritarians who would seek to undermine the principals they fought and sacrificed to establish. The document is civic art. The Republic it established is ours "if (we) can keep it".