Virginians in the Struggle for Freedom

IN THE present world-wide struggle between the ideologies of democracy and dictatorship, it is a source of pride to Virginians that many of the fundamental principles of democracy were formulated by native sons of the Mother State. In fact, the history of Virginia is a moving story of an uphill yet successful march in helping to declare, establish, defend and strengthen a government dedicated to assure freedom for all its people.

The nation was born in Virginia on May 13, 1607, when a courageous band of Englishmen established at Jamestown the first permanent English settlement in America. Here, too, in 1619, was set up the first representative assembly in the new world — the beginning of our system of representative government. Thus, the Virginia Legislature, which met first at Jamestown and later at Williamsburg, and which meets now at Richmond, holds the distinction of being the oldest legislative assembly in the Western Hemisphere.

Nathaniel Bacon’s rebellion against the royal governor at Jamestown in 1676 might well be called the opening gun in the long struggle for American independence. Patrick Henry and a host of other Virginians used the pen, the tongue and the sword in this fight, which terminated in 1781 at Yorktown, where the English finally capitulated, thus assuring the colonies of their independence.

George Mason penned our Bill of Rights, guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. Virginia, in ratifying the new Constitution of the United States, urged that the Bill of Rights be added and the principles in this document were carried into the Constitution as the first ten Amendments. George Washington commanded the American forces in their fight for independence and, as President, piloted the new nation through her first years, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and served as President during the formative years of the new republic. James Madison inspired the American Constitution and Served the young nation as President. When James Monroe was in the Presidential chair, he gave us the Monroe Doctrine, which is today playing an increasingly important role in our foreign policy. The soul of Woodrow Wilson burned with a passionate desire to extend the fruits of our successful democracy to larger fields.

The homes of these and other great Virginians are today historic shrines, carefully preserved, and to them thousands come annually to pay homage to these sons of the past and to gain new inspiration for the American way of life.

Virginia dedicates her shrines, together with her recreational and scenic attractions in the mountains and by the sea and her intriguing natural wonders to the people of the nation. She bids one and all to come and share her glorious heritage with her people.

This message is reproduced from the preface to the 88-page illustrated booklet entitled “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia.”A free copy of this booklet may be obtained by writing to the Virginia Conservation Commission, Room 861, 914 Capitol Street, Richmoral,Virginia.