The 226 Year Experiment Continues
By Mike Bayham
July 4, 2002

At 226 years, America is still a relatively young nation. For example, China has been around for thousands of years. Before returning to the world map in 1948, Israel's origins can be traced in the Old Testament.

Even though the word "freedom" contains the word "free," we all know that there is a high price for liberty. This is something that was not lost on America's Korean War veterans, on whose memorial in DC are etched the words "freedom is not free." In that conflict, over 54,000 thousand American servicemen died.

War and American history are almost synonymous. This is because the United States has had to earn its independence and has had to fight to maintain it. Unlike the many nations that we have rescued from others or themselves, the United States is a self-made nation. Though the rebels received late support from Spain and France in their fight against the "lobster backs" and the Hessians, that assistance only came when the nation had proven itself on the battlefield at Saratoga.

Though the Bourbons had little use for England, the monarchs of France and Spain were far from charitable institutions and were not about to engage in something with little chance of success.

America's alliance with Spain and France did not last long and when British aggression against the US became unbearable in the early 19th century, the United States found itself alone in challenging the world's superpower of the 1800s. Spain and England had become allies against Napoleon and the Spanish crown sympathized and assisted Britain in the southern theatre of the War of 1812. With the French Empire defeated and Napoleon in exile, the United States had to stand by itself against the tested British forces.

Though the offensive into Canada was repulsed, Hampton was raped and pillaged, the capital was captured, and the White House and Capitol burned, the Americans forced the British to the bargaining table and ended the war. If there were any doubts about American resolve or ability to fight the British, they were dashed at the Battle of New Orleans where an odd combination of American regulars, pirates, local militia, and "dirty shirt" volunteers annihilated Britain's finest.

America has since been involved in many other wars though for varying reasons. The war with Mexico determined who would be "el jeffe" of the North American continent, with the US coming out on top and gaining extensive territories in the southwest. The War Between the States decided the relationship between the states and the national government and would also resolve the slavery question.

The informal, though no less violent, war against the Indians cleared large portions of the country for settlement at the expense of displacing, and unfortunately at times exterminating, the original inhabitants of the area.

The "splendid little war" fought against Spain in 1898 marked the nation's shift toward active involvement in foreign affairs and the beginning of America's emergence as a world power. From then on, the wars of the twentieth century saw America's role and influence in the international scene expand out of necessity.

American commerce came under direct assault by the Kaiser's U-boats during World War I and German intrigue with Mexico motivated the populace to support America's entry into the Great War. Twenty years later, Germany's renewal of the attack against American shipping coupled with Japanese expansionism and the bombing of Pearl Harbor dragged the isolationist country back into world affairs again.

After winning World War II, America was thrust into the Cold War, which became a hot war in Korea and Vietnam in addition to our economic and indirect military support of allied countries across the globe. The most recent focus of American attention has been in the Middle East with the liberation of Kuwait and later, with the attack against the United States by terrorists based in Afghanistan.

And just like there have been wars from the beginning of American history, there have also been prominent and emphatic opponents of all of these military engagements. During the Revolution it has been estimated that one-third of the nation consisted of Tories who wished to remain as British subjects. During the War of 1812, the New England states opposed the war and had considered secession.

Then Congressman Abraham Lincoln had been a vocal opponent against the war with Mexico. Obviously the other wars from the Civil War till today have had their critics. American involvement in some conflicts has had less merit than in other wars. Alternative scenarios in which the US may have assumed a more pacifist posture would have resulted in even greater conflicts fought from an unfavorable position.

Regardless of the debate of "just and unjust wars," the fact that this nation has been willing to defend itself and its interests over the past two hundred plus years has kept the nation strong and free. Costa Rica can afford to be a "dove" republic because in the grand scheme of things, their future will have little bearing on world events. Because we are a great nation, we must accept the great responsibility that comes with this status.

Since the first volleys were fired at Lexington and Concord, over 1,153,000 paid the ultimate price in preserving freedom. Some of those who died protecting their country were small farmers wearing tricorner hats who fell from a fatal musket ball. Last year, these heroes were joined by a group of travelers in casual clothes who fought their abductors and prevented a greater tragedy from taking place on September 11.

The men and women who have served in the defense of our country over the past 226 years have contributed much to the success of keeping the American experiment going strong. And it is because of them that the Fourth of July is still celebrated by Americans and is not just another day on the calendar.