--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our situation illustrates the American…" description: "\"Our situation illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or ab..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg" --- # Our situation illustrates the American idea that… ![“Our situation illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established." With the politically correct controversy on slavery, it…” quote by Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg) > “Our situation illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established." With the politically correct controversy on slavery, it is noted that the unusual statements that Jefferson Davis makes are interesting, and many do not seem to fit into the mold that they try to put him in.” [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Governments exist by people’s consent and can be changed when they betray their purpose. **In simple terms:** People should control and replace harmful governments. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and the right to reform. Themes politics consent reform rights Mood serious critical Type political historical When to use this quote - civil rights movements - political protests - government reforms Key Concepts social contract legitimacy revolution Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to overthrow a government? - How does consent shape legitimacy? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex historical contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consent of the governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent-of-the-governed/) [Controversy Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy-slavery-6139555/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson-davis/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Slavery Noted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-noted-6139558/) [Statements Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements-jefferson-6139556/) [Unusual Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unusual-statements-6139557/) ## Related quotes > [Governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them at will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/governments-rest-on-the-consent-of-the-governed-and-that-it-is-the/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [“Okay, first of all, they don't "consider" Jefferson Davis racist, he was President of the Confederacy, his racism is not up for any sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-kirk/okay-first-of-all-they-don-t-consider-jefferson-davis-racist-he-was/) [T.J. Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-kirk/) > [Remember me, Jefferson Davis Middle. I was your savior. I was your knight in shining armor. And each of you were the chinks upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/remember-me-jefferson-davis-middle-i-was-your-savior-i-was-your/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [“The extraordinary outpouring of bipartisan concern blotted out the scandals of Grant’s presidency and restored him to his rightful niche in the American pantheon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/the-extraordinary-outpouring-of-bipartisan-concern-blotted-out-the/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“Although each of these disparate groups trusted Garfield, it was not until they were plunged into a common grief and fear that they began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-millard/although-each-of-these-disparate-groups-trusted-garfield-it-was-not/) [Candice Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-millard/) > [The landscape in Montgomery and in the South is just saturated with imagery. Markers are everywhere. There's a marker for the first Confederate post…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/the-landscape-in-montgomery-and-in-the-south-is-just-saturated-with/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [“During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/during-this-time-jefferson-davis-made-a-speech-in-macon-georgia-which/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [The platform we had in Dallas, the 1984 Republican platform, all the ideas we supported there - from tax policy, to foreign policy; from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/the-platform-we-had-in-dallas-the-1984-republican-platform-all-the/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [“I’m gonna make race the basis of politics in this state, and I’m gonna make it the basis of politics in this country.” Later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-m-gonna-make-race-the-basis-of-politics-in-this-state-and-i-m-gonna/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“Criticism of Davis was neither new nor unusual, for his Confederacy was by no means a monolithic state. Secession had been imposed upon many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burke-davis/criticism-of-davis-was-neither-new-nor-unusual-for-his-confederacy/) [Burke Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burke-davis/) > [We've got to replace the statues of Jefferson Davis and JZ George in the U.S. Capitol, and the people of Mississippi ought to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/we-ve-got-to-replace-the-statues-of-jefferson-davis-and-jz-george-in/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [Of course, Mississippi participates in federal matching programs for everything from preserving the post-Civil War home of Jefferson Davis to beaver control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-musgrove/of-course-mississippi-participates-in-federal-matching-programs-for/) [Ronnie Musgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-musgrove/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“When Lincoln was running for the House of Representatives from Illinois, he was charged with being “a scoffer at religion,” wrote the historian William…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/when-lincoln-was-running-for-the-house-of-representatives-from/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“In early September, convinced that the best way to defend Richmond was to divert attention to Washington, Lee had decided to invade Maryland after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/in-early-september-convinced-that-the-best-way-to-defend-richmond-was/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) ## More by Jefferson Davis > [Butler is branded a felon, an outlaw, an enemy of Mankind, and so ordered that in the event of his capture, the officer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/butler-is-branded-a-felon-an-outlaw-an-enemy-of-mankind-and-so/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Whether by the House or by the People, if an Abolitionist be chosen President of the United States, you will have presented to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/whether-by-the-house-or-by-the-people-if-an-abolitionist-be-chosen/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Without doing injustice to the living, it may safely be asserted that our loss is irreparable; and that among the shining hosts of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/without-doing-injustice-to-the-living-it-may-safely-be-asserted-that/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [The Slave must be made fit for his freedom by education and discipline, and thus made unfit for slavery. And as soon as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/the-slave-must-be-made-fit-for-his-freedom-by-education-and/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [This war must go on till the last of this generation falls in his tracks, and his children seize his musket and fight our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/this-war-must-go-on-till-the-last-of-this-generation-falls-in-his/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [I will admit no bond that holds me to a party a day longer than I agree to its principles. When men meet together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/i-will-admit-no-bond-that-holds-me-to-a-party-a-day-longer-than-i/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [How idle is this prating about natural rights as though still containing all that had been forfeited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/how-idle-is-this-prating-about-natural-rights-as-though-still/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [To increase the power, develop the resources and promote the happiness of a Confederacy, it is requisite there should be so much of homogeneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/to-increase-the-power-develop-the-resources-and-promote-the-happiness/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Our armies were in as much chaos in victory as theirs in defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/our-armies-were-in-as-much-chaos-in-victory-as-theirs-in-defeat/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [The authors of all our misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/the-authors-of-all-our-misfortune/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [God forbid that the day should ever come when to be true to my constituents is to be hostile to the Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/god-forbid-that-the-day-should-ever-come-when-to-be-true-to-my/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [For an enemy so relentless in the war for our subjugation, we could not be expected to mourn; yet, in view of its political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/for-an-enemy-so-relentless-in-the-war-for-our-subjugation-we-could/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them at will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/governments-rest-on-the-consent-of-the-governed-and-that-it-is-the/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [My own convictions as to negro slavery are strong. It has its evils and abuses...We recognize the negro as God and God's Book and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/my-own-convictions-as-to-negro-slavery-are-strong-it-has-its-evils/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Neither current events nor history show that the majority rule, or ever did rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/neither-current-events-nor-history-show-that-the-majority-rule-or/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) [Explore all 71 Jefferson Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) ## More Consent of the governed quotes > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Our Declaration of Independence declares that democracies derive their power from the 'consent of the governed.' But this democracy will fail if only some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/our-declaration-of-independence-declares-that-democracies-derive/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [The mass of the citizens is the safest depositary of their own rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-mass-of-the-citizens-is-the-safest-depositary-of-their-own-rights/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“Fortunately, there was government by consent of the governed in America—but just as unfortunately, such governments dearly hate to admit a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach/fortunately-there-was-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-in/) [T. R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach/) > [From the day of its birth, the anomaly of slavery plagued a nation which asserted the equality of all men, and sought to derive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/from-the-day-of-its-birth-the-anomaly-of-slavery-plagued-a-nation/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-are-a-nation-that-has-a-government-not-the-other-way-around-and/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The public needs to know the kinds of things a government does in its name, or the 'consent of the governed' is meaningless... The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-public-needs-to-know-the-kinds-of-things-a-government-does-in-its/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Even the most despotic government cannot stand except for the consent of the governed… Immediately the subject ceases to fear the despotic force, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/even-the-most-despotic-government-cannot-stand-except-for-the-consent/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The consent of the governed" is more than a safeguard against ignorant tyrants: it is an insurance against benevolent despots as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-consent-of-the-governed-is-more-than-a-safeguard-against-ignorant/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them at will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/governments-rest-on-the-consent-of-the-governed-and-that-it-is-the/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > ["All men are created equal." "Government by consent of the governed." "Give me liberty or give me death." And those are not just clever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/all-men-are-created-equal-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-give/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathers-gave-us-a-democracy-it-was/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-a-government-bottomed-on-the-will-of-all-the-liberty-of-every/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Government itself is founded upon the great doctrine of the consent of the governed, and has its cornerstone in the memorable principle that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-stanford/government-itself-is-founded-upon-the-great-doctrine-of-the-consent/) [Leland Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-stanford/) [Browse all 59 Consent of the governed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent-of-the-governed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our situation illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established.\" With the politically correct controversy on slavery, it is noted that the unusual statements that Jefferson Davis makes are interesting, and many do not seem to fit into the mold that they try to put him in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jefferson Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/our-situation-illustrates-the-american-idea-that-governments-rest-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consent of the governed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/our-situation-illustrates-the-american-idea-that-governments-rest-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/jefferson-davis-9399_consent-of-the-gover_our-situation-illustrates-the-american-i_1610156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our situation illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that…” — Jefferson Davis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jefferson Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our situation illustrates the American idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/our-situation-illustrates-the-american-idea-that-governments-rest-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/our-situation-illustrates-the-american-idea-that-governments-rest-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```