“Knowledge itself is power:” a revolutionary idea stated by Francis Bacon being spread during the enlightenment period. In fact, it reflects how the United States gained independence, as the American Colonies became conscious of the discrimination they faced within the British government. With the formation of the U.S. came the inclusion of new ideas within society, all with the intent to keep the American government fair and differential in comparison to the British Parliament and Crown. These ideas are clearly seen in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which also provided Americans with the right to discuss the government’s mistreatment and the right to revolt if they found the government was acting against the population’s desires or best interests. As the …show more content…
government’s secrets would have resulted in a vulnerable America, lacking any trustful alliances. The government keeps secrets in order to keep the U.S. safe and thriving. When America undergoes military conflict, how could they plan an attack if the opposing side knows their every move? Secrets regarding foreign relations are important if government leaders want to keep their allies and have a defense against any adversaries. However, the U.S. government has a tendency to keep more secrets than necessary. The Cobell v. Babbitt court case was no exception. The case followed years of mismanagement of Indian Trust Funds, resulting in billions of dollars worth of royalty payments never being distributed to their rightful owners. Rich land, producing thousands of dollars worth of oil, provided practically nothing back to the owners. The Native Americans grew tired of not receiving their funds, so they fought back. Some shut down their wells or caught them on fire, but Cobell had a different idea: to sue them. It became a court case that lasted 15 years. However, no one knew what