by Valentine Logar

Created on: September 09, 2009

Are we truly a moral society, have we ever been so and are we more or less than in years past? This is the question that has plagued every generation and one that is nearly always answered that we are less so today than in previous decades. What changes so dramatically between generations that would cause this marked decline in the perception of our morals? Is there some specific function or behavior that can be pointed at within each generation that could be said to be the indicator for the downward slide to perdition? These are the questions that we must ask about the generation of our children and that our parents have asked about us. What though is the barometer for a moral society, the basis by which we judge?

Let is take a short walk through the history of this nation to determine for ourselves the morality of each generation and draw our own conclusions. It is only by seeking our answers in history that we are truly able to answer the question at hand, are we morally in decline. First, it is important to define the span of time between generations, for the purpose of this article twenty-five years is the span used. Where historical periods span greater periods than a single generation it will be noted.

The discovery and founding of the continent of America spanned nearly 200 years, beginning in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown, Virginia on May 12, 1607. Now of course it is well known that Virginia was inhabited by indigenous people, in fact several different tribes called the Virginia territories home. The settlers were kept alive by trading with the Native peoples for food in their first hard years. Overall, from 1607 to 1619 it might be said that the colonies were so focused on survival they had no choice but to behave in a moral fashion. In 1619, this would change though with the introduction of the first slaves sold in the Americas. From a moral perspective, the argument could be made that this represented a sharp departure and decline in the moral fabric of the nation that lasted for approximately 246 years.

Of course, one shouldn't forget those wonderful Puritans and the Salem Witch trials of 1692 and 1693. This was a very moral period of our national history indeed by all accounts. Yet and one that we should all use as a cautionary tale of a religious extremism, political rhetoric, and judicial overstepping. The results of this morally "right" period of our history was the arrest and imprisonment of 150 innocent people and ultimately the death

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