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Read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
Having a clear understanding of the basic founding documents gives us the proper perspective upon which to take actions and to believe in the actions we take. 
Declaration of Independence
Our heritage formally began on July 4, 1776 when the 13 United States of America declared their independence from the State of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence describes why we broke away and suggests the kind of society the founding fathers wanted to establish in America.
"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
U.S. Consitution
The Constitution and the related Bill of Rights and other Amendments describe the laws and principles upon which our country was founded.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The National Archives and Records Administration is a good resource for finding out about and obtaining copies of important national documents.
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