When the Articles of Confederation were ratified they gave all power to the states, meaning it created a weak central government unable to tax.
The trial of Peter Zenger is widely credited with being the first example of American freedom of "press" and "speech", since Zenger was tried but acquitted of publishing articles in his newspaper that went against the government
The greatest responsibility of the government is to protect it's citizens, both their rights, and them physically. They should also provide at least the bare necessities, if not more.
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