Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for July 30, 2019
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
July 30, 2019: Four hundred years ago today—July 30, 1619—the first representative government in the American colonies was established. The House of Burgesses met in the Jamestown Church “to establish one equal and uniform government over all Virginia.”[1]
As with many historical firsts, the event itself wasn’t all that great. The story was recounted in my book The Sun Is Still Rising: Politics Has Failed but America Will Not:
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“It was hot and humid and many of the Burgesses were ill from the extreme temperatures.” One of the 22 elected representatives died from the heat and the entire session was concluded after just six days. Thus began America’s long and generally successful experiment with self-governance. However, in a twist of fate worthy of a Greek tragedy, the first enslaved people arrived in the same town just a few weeks later. They were probably literate and Christian, having been abducted by Portuguese slave traders from what is now Angola. British pirates raided the Portuguese ship, took roughly two dozen captives as their prize, and sold them in Jamestown. Thus began America’s great national sin, a sin that has haunted the nation for four centuries. These two narratives—one positive and one negative—have competed and interacted to define America ever since. These dueling histories directly impact the way we perceive events today. We see it in the polarized responses every time any racially charged event bursts into the news. [2] |
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| —Scott Rasmussen, The Sun Is Still Rising: Politics Has Failed but America Will Not | ||
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- July 29, 2019 – 18 percent of voters hold political views that would shock their close friends and family members
- July 26, 2019 – 53 percent of voters consider President Trump’s rhetoric to be polarizing and divisive
- July 25, 2019 – 16 percent of voters believe how much you earn is simply a matter of luck
- July 24, 2019 – 80 percent of Democratic primary voters would be excited or satisfied with Joe Biden as their party’s nominee
- July 23, 2019 – 54 percent of voters believe President Trump is as ethical as most politicians
- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here to check out the latest update.
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Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Rasmussen, S. (2018). The Sun is Still Rising: Politics Has Failed But America Will Not. Salt Lake City, UT: Sutherland Institute.
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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