Following Jefferson: Promoting Inter-Generational Understanding Through Constitution-Making

Part II: Preambles

The band of brothers that met in Philadelphia to draft a fresh Constitution shared one thing in common: They were children of the Enlightenment. It didn’t matter where they came from or what experiences shaped their lives, America’s Founding Fathers subscribed to the ideals of human reason, the rule of law, government by consent, and the all-important “pursuit of happiness.” The Enlightenment was their collective calling card.

That generational camaraderie found purchase in the immortal words of the preamble. “We the People of the United States,” the famous preface begins, “in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Making promises, or at least challenging ourselves to reach a higher political vista, is pure Enlightenment thinking.

The question is, do Americans still believe in the pillars of the Enlightenment?

In Part II of our series on generational constitution-making, we’ll take a look at preambles. These curious introductory statements are filled with exalted language and lofty promises that reflect the objectives of their constitutional drafters. Comparing the seven AI-generated constitutions, what’s clear is that each generation embraces a distinct set of ambitions, a diverse arrangement of aims. The contrast is revealing.

The preamble written for the “Greatest Generation” can best be described as selfless: “We the People of the United States, humbly aware of the sacrifices of those who came before us, and mindful of our duty to preserve liberty, justice, and unity, do ordain and establish this Constitution to promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of freedom, uphold personal responsibility, and strengthen our bonds of community for ourselves and for generations yet unborn.”

Born between 1900 and 1924, the “Greatest Generation” lived through the Great Depression and both World Wars. Unsurprisingly, its priorities are resilience, integrity, work ethic, and patriotism. The language of the preamble suggests a certain expectation of personal honor, as well as a resolute commitment to the nation’s prosperity. Responsibility, burden, rectitude, esteem: these are the noble causes of America’s oldest living generation.

The “Silent Generation” – Americans born between 1925-1945 – felt an obligation to carry on the altruism of the “Greatest Generation,” and to salute the sacrifices of past patriots. Its preamble flows seamlessly from that of its predecessor’s: “We the People of the United States, in acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by our forebears, resolve to preserve the liberty, order, and unity of our nation. In the spirit of duty, respect for authority, and hard work, we seek to build a future grounded in self-reliance, mutual respect, and a deep commitment to the common good. We honor the institutions of democracy and freedom, and we pledge to safeguard these gifts for generations to come.”

But things start to turn here. Those born between the forties and the sixties who collectively mourned the assassination of President Kennedy and who lived out their childhoods in the shadow of Vietnam and Watergate are, predictably, reluctant to trust. These “Baby Boomers” enter the adult world with their eyes wide open. They seek to secure liberty and justice, but now they place “opportunity” and “fairness” adjacent to the more conventional pillars of Enlightenment philosophy. Gone is the pledge to a common good, and in its place is a promise that “every citizen” has certain private (not collective) rights. We, the people of the United States, in recognition of our shared history and common future, do hereby establish this Constitution to secure liberty, equality, opportunity, and justice for all. Grounded in the belief that progress is built upon the foundation of fairness, compassion, and respect for individual freedoms, we seek to promote the general welfare and ensure that every citizen has the right to pursue happiness, fulfillment, and prosperity.”

The children of “Baby Boomers” extend the march away from vows of self-sacrifice and commitments to the community. These “Gen Xers” arrive on the scene just as Jim Crow (legally, at least) departs. The Cold War, the AIDS epidemic, economic recessions, and the realization that resources are finite pervade their lived experience. As such, citizens born between 1965-1979 are even more pessimistic than their predecessors. The “Gen X” preamble reflects a resignation that ours is a country in decline: “We the People of the United States, seeking a freer, fairer, and more sustainable society, do establish this Constitution to protect individual rights, ensure equitable opportunity, promote transparent governance, preserve the environment, and safeguard the freedom of expression and innovation for ourselves and generations to come.”

By the time we reach “Millennials” – those born between 1980-1994 – the original Enlightenment values, not to mention the devotion to self-sacrifice, have all but disappeared. The “Millennial” preamble reads, “We the people of this nation, guided by the values of equality, sustainability, innovation, and compassion, hereby establish this Constitution. As members of the Millennial generation, we recognize the need for a future where all voices are heard, where environmental stewardship is prioritized, and where technology serves the common good. We strive to create a society that is inclusive, just, and forward-thinking, committed to the well-being of all its citizens and the planet.”

What is fascinating is that the vow to posterity is still present in the “Millennial” preamble, but it takes a different form. It’s about protecting the planet now. Technology, as well, shows up for the first time. Millennials are making a pledge that the tools of the digital age are necessary for America’s collective welfare.

The emphasis on environmental inheritance and technological innovation continues in the “Gen Z” Constitution. Born in tandem with the launch of the World Wide Web, and growing up in a setting dominated by the ubiquitous smartphone and the looming climate collapse, “Gen Z” cares about inclusivity, access, and fairness. They want the marginalized to have an equal voice. Its constitutional preamble claims, “We, the People of the United States, in order to build a just, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable society for all, establish this Constitution to secure human dignity, protect our planet, guarantee digital and civil liberties, and build a future where every voice is heard and valued.”

Overall, it can be said that generational constitutions evolve. From the eighteenth-century preamble that chants an Enlightenment refrain to the “Gen Z” preamble that amplifies the very voices the founding generation ignored, it’s evident that each living generation emphasizes different priorities. That’s only natural.

And yet there are threads that connect all preambles. Liberty, in one form or another, finds a foothold in every preamble. Justice, now “established,” is also well represented. And so is the promise to “promote the general welfare.” These connections denote no small triumph, especially in our deeply polarized environment.

But it is the opening chorus that heralds America’s greatest hope. “We the People,” each generational preamble begins. When the Framers set out to constitute a nation 238 years ago, they placed their trust in the collective populace. They forged a republic where the people are sovereign. It was the dawn of the American Enlightenment. Thankfully, the sun on that democratic experiment has not yet set.

Beau Breslin is the Joseph C. Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College.

Prairie Gunnels just successfully and with honors completed her first year at Skidmore.

SUGGESTION: Following Jefferson: Promoting Intergenerational Understanding Through Constitution-Making

Democracy in Action: May Retrospective

Beau spoke about the new series he's leading in the Fulcrum called “Following Jefferson: Promoting Inter-generational Understanding through Constitution-making.” "Thomas Jefferson thought that constitutions should be rewritten every generation," said Beau. "Which for him meant every 19 years, we ought to metaphorically go back to Philadelphia and rewrite the Constitution."

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