Bernie Sanders claims America founded on 'Racist Principles'

[Abraham Reagan]

 America was founded of the principals of limited government, freedom of expression, and the right of self determination. Now obviously, these principles were not equally applied to all people for a long period, but that does not make the principles themselves racist. In fact, if you want to know the greatest force preventing greater equality for blacks, look at the Democratic Party.

 From the very beginning of American nationhood, abolitionism was a powerful force. Many of the founders, like Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and John Jay thought slavery was a violation of the rights of man and helped to create the first abolitionist societies. Abolition of slavery was passed in PA, MA, CT, RI, NH, VT, AND NY before the beginning of the 19th century, and President Washington signed an act prohibiting slavery in the the then territories of OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, IA.

 Abraham Lincoln understood the founders' situation when he said "just as an afflicted man hides away a wen or a cancer, which he dares not cut out at once, lest he bleed to death; with the promise, nevertheless, that the cutting may begin at the end of a given time." He understood that if the founders' tried to declare an immediate end to all slavery, the new nation would be torn apart. Nevertheless, the founders set forth a system by which the abolition of slavery would eventually be assured.