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Constitutional Achievement: America
against foreign discrimination. There were owners of
paper money, bonds, and certificates of indebtedness
who also agitated for a stronger government.
And so, the economic provisions of the Constitution
dealt with those glaring weaknesses of the Articles of
, Confederation. Congress was given the authority to
regulate both foreign and interstate commerce.
Congress was given the authority,
'~
..
to lay and
collect Taxes/ Duties/ Imports/ and Excises to pay the
Debts andprovide for the common Defense andgeneral
Welfare.
"
Congress was given the sole authority to coin
money, determine its value, and to punish
counterfeiting.
Through the Constitution, the Founding Fathers tried
to make .sure that the natural right of Americans to use
their own energy for their own self-advancement would
not be interfered with by the government.
It
was that
personal economic freedom -- freedom of choice and
freedom of action -- that has allowed Americans to
release their energy in a way that no other nation has
done. Personal economic freedom has always been a
prime reason for the greatness of America.
Thomas Jefferson put it this way:
"Agriculture/
manufacturers commerce/ and navigation
--
the four
pillars. ofourprosperity, are the most thriving when left
most free to individual enterprise.
"
This country has
built a unique economic society based on individual
freedom, initiative and responsibility · in operating
private, competitive enterprises.
Although America's Constitution did not mention the
freedom of enterprise by name, it did set up a system
of laws to secure the. idea of freedom applied to the
marketplace. Free enterprise means that any person in
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