Hakeem Jeffries: American Democracy Is Under Assault From Within

The Founding of the Republic

• 📜 The story of America's founding is often told through the lens of the 1787 convention, where the Constitution was created.
• 💬 Ben Franklin famously responded to a question about whether a monarchy or a republic was created with, "We've created a republic, if you can keep it."
• ⚠️ Franklin's skepticism, even after America's victory over the British Empire, stemmed from the unprecedented nature of the governmental institutions established.

Maintaining the Republic

• 🏛️ The framers established checks and balances, separate branches of government, an independent judiciary, a free press, and the rule of law.
• 🌍 These institutions had never before been combined in a single form of government in world history.
• 🇺🇸 Despite initial skepticism, America has maintained its republic for centuries, a testament to its journey and exceptionalism.

The Current Threat to Democracy

• 🚨 Representative Hakeem Jeffries warns that for the first time since the Civil War, American democracy's values, ideas, and institutions are under assault.
• ⚠️ This threat is not from external forces but is originating from within the nation.
• ✊ The question posed by Ben Franklin, "We've created a republic, if you can keep it," is now a call to action for all citizens, leaders, and activists.