by Darrell McKigney

As Americans celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, we should remember one of most important facts about our founding generation: they were predominantly small businessmen.

Thirty-six of the fifty-six signers (64%) of the Declaration of Independence had business experience such as being merchants, traders, doctors and farmers, including such famous signers as John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. Of the fifty-five framers of the U.S. Constitution who were present during some part of the Convention, thirty (55%) had business experience.

What makes the American Revolution distinct is that it was led primarily by small, independent businessmen for whom personal freedom also meant economic freedom. Unlike other modern revolutions that occurred in France, Russia or China, the American Revolution was not the product of political or academicelites, it was the product of mostly common-sense, practical American entrepreneurs.

There is no question that the free-market, consumer-oriented experience of the founding generation was a major contributing factor in building a successful democratic government. And given that most of the founders derived their livelihoods outside government, they were more interested in protecting personal freedom than building a powerful and intrusive federal government.

As the great observer of America, Alexis De Tocqueville, pointed out: in Europe, politics was typically the main occupation of politicians, so they

were inclined to grow government and make it more powerful. But in America, most leaders were citizen-lawmakers who earned their living and

expressed their creativity through private endeavors, and were more likely to favor limited government.

Today, we are at risk of losing that earlier entrepreneurial spirit among our leaders as more and more have become career politicians. This should be a great concern to all Americans because the entrepreneurial spirit and the values of limited government and free enterprise remain essential to the American dream and the success of our democracy.

The writer is President of the Small Business Survival Committee, one of the nation‘s leading nonprofit, nonpartisan small business advocacy organizations. To learn more, check out SBSC‘s web site at www.sbsc.org