Word: jamestown
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...Englishmen landed at Jamestown, Va., to establish the first successful permanent English settlement in the New World. This year we commemorate the 400th anniversary of their arrival--an event that changed the world. Jamestown was the beginning of America's representative government, the rule of law, free enterprise and what has now become one of the most culturally diverse societies on earth...
...founders of Jamestown underwent severe testing; their survival was continually at risk. But Jamestown endured and gave America if not a perfect start, certainly a legacy of self-reliance sufficient to build upon and establish a system of citizen participation in government...
...what can we learn from Jamestown? There is of course the tangible. The research being done at Historic Jamestowne, including some breakthrough discoveries in recent years, is giving us new insights into exactly what took place so long ago. Since 1994, in fact, archaeologists have uncovered a vast array of artifacts--ceramics, jewelry, tools, coins, furnishings, food, armor and arms--that have illuminated the conditions, trials, troubles and heroics of this colonial English outpost in the New World. Simply as a story of humanity in adversity, it is a stunning and instructive tale...
...there is the larger purpose at work today in this commemoration--a purpose that goes to the heart of how we strengthen our democracy in today's world and build for the future. Jamestown has something to contribute to that too. This is an ideal opportunity to recognize the importance of promoting civic learning: teaching our young people about our history and the responsibilities of citizenship as well as the special significance of the rule of law in a functioning democracy. The better we all understand and appreciate the genesis of the American republic and how it works, the more...
...must look to the past to understand better how we became the people we are, the adversity that had to be overcome, the courage of our forebears, their achievements and, yes, their mistakes and failings. We must also make time to look to the future. Jamestown's 400th birthday provides a platform for emphasizing the importance of civics education taught in the context of our nation's history. Sustaining our democratic republic requires that we renew our commitment to that objective...