Press release
The Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution had its first meeting in September after summer break at the Cedar Creek Methodist Church in Tool.
Speaker Suzie Smith spoke of the Constitution as one of the strongest documents ever created, not only on Americans but on people all over the world. The actual creation of the document is almost as intriguing as the document itself. In May of 1787 some of our founding fathers met in Philadelphia at Independence Hall, it was at this convention where the Constitution was hammered out. When the Constitution was being discussed make no mistake there was turmoil inside, it was real, so real that not all states chose to be present. The state of Rhode Island refused to send a delegate because it was afraid of losing states rights. The convention took place from May to September 1787 at Independence Hall in the exact spot where the Declaration of Independence had been signed 11 years earlier. In order to keep the deliberations secret the delegates voted to keep the hall windows shut even in the very heat of summer. James Madison’s diary is the only record we have of this meeting. He was known as the framer for the Constitution. George Washington presided over the Convention. Thomas Jefferson was in France as an ambassador but kept informed of the proceedings form Madison. John Adams, as ambassador to Great Britain, wrote “Defense of the Constitution of the Government of the United States of America” and provided his writings to those that had input or simply thoughts on the Constitution. Thomas Paine was known as the “Wordsmith” when he wrote the pamphlet “Common Sense.” His writings served as a spark which helped ignite Americans.
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution were written by James Madison and are known as the Bill of Rights and lists specific bans on government power. The Virginia Declaration of Rights strongly influenced Madison when he wrote the Bill of Rights.
The framers had a vision that was to create a government with sufficient flexibility to assure the future of a young and growing nation that could cope with circumstances that they themselves could not imagine. It is a document intended to endure for ages to come and consequently to be adapted to the various crisis of human affairs.
Suzie ends by these words: Americans are not defined by a religion, a race, a language or our ethnicity. We are defined by our common commitment to the ideals contained in our Constitution. “We the People” are held together by our shared beliefs in such values as Liberty, Equality and Justice.
Suzie Smith earned her Associates Degree from Trinity Valley Community College, her Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M Commerce with a major in history and minor in education, her Masters of Science from the University of Texas in Tyler with three disciplines including history with a focus on Colonial North America, in Political Science and in Communications. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2017 from TVCC and most important she has a husband, three children and five grandchildren.
