From the very beginning, people have had to find ways of working together. Sometimes they fought it out and the victor would be in charge. When the early Americans first settled this continent, they tried out various approaches to government. It was clear that someone had to be in charge of making some decisions or there would be chaos and everyone would suffer. Sometimes the religious leader became the leader of the community, and sometimes the most outspoken person with the clearest vision became the authority.

People had to find a way to work together if they were to survive. Government is something which, when it works well, gives people tools for working together to make decisions and rules to benefit and protect everyone.