The Constitution: Post-Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are foundational documents that established the United States of America as a country independent of England. The Declaration of Independence, finalised on July 4, 1776, and signed by representatives from all 13 colonies on August 2, 1776, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and outlined the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Constitution, on the other hand, was written and signed in 1787 and established the framework for the federal government of the United States, setting out the laws of the land.

Explore related products

A People's History of the United States

$18.79 $23.99

American History, Combined Edition: 1492 - Present

$68.31 $89.99

Code Noir: Slave Laws in French Colonial Mid-America

$18

A True History of the United States: Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism (Truth to Power)

$22.95

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America

$20.99 $32.5

Everything You Need to Ace U.S. History in One Big Fat Notebook, 2nd Edition: The Complete Middle School Study Guide

$10.59 $16.99

The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776

The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, is one of the foundational documents of the United States of America. It expresses the ideals on which the country was founded and lists grievances against the King of England to justify the separation from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the third president of the United States, was the principal drafter of the Declaration.

The Declaration of Independence was finalised on 4 July 1776 and signed by representatives from all 13 colonies on 2 August 1776. It included a preamble that stated "all men are created equal", although this was not intended to refer to racial equality, as Jefferson was a slave owner himself, and the document did not attempt to halt the business of slavery. The Declaration also alluded to the fundamental freedoms of the American people, which were later enumerated and legally enforced by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The Declaration was signed by 55 people, including George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson, who also signed the Constitution. The signing of the Declaration was a treasonous act against England, and the names of the signers were not published until after General George Washington won crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton, ensuring the war for independence was going well.

The Declaration of Independence, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, form the Charters of Freedom, which are enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives. These documents are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect, including common law rights from sources like the Magna Carta and natural rights believed to have come from God.

The US Constitution was ratified in 1787

The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787. It was drafted by a convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now known as Independence Hall). The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates. Many people made important contributions, but James Madison is considered the "Father of the Constitution" and was a driving force throughout the summer of 1787. His ideas made their way into the final document, and his notes on the proceedings have provided valuable insights into the process.

The delegates who drafted the Constitution were authorised by Congress to gather in Philadelphia and recommend changes to the existing charter of government for the 13 states, the Articles of Confederation. Many Americans believed that the Articles of Confederation had created a weak and ineffective central government. The delegates soon realised that they were forming an entirely new form of government. For four months, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, they debated, argued, and compromised in secrecy. The convention was presided over by George Washington, who was chosen for his leadership skills.

Once the convention concluded, each state held its own separate ratification convention. The Constitution would become the law of the land once three-quarters of the states had ratified it. The Federalist Papers, published under the pseudonym of Publius but written by Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, played a crucial role in securing the Constitution's ratification in several key states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.

The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention

The Constitution of the United States was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to address the inadequacies of the existing Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak and ineffective central government.

The Philadelphia Convention was attended by delegates from twelve states (Rhode Island did not send a representative) and presided over by George Washington. The delegates debated and compromised in secrecy for four months, ultimately envisioning an entirely new system of government for the American people. The resulting Constitution formed the federal government and set the laws of the land, establishing the framework for the United States' guiding principles.

The Constitution was signed in 1787, eleven years after the Declaration of Independence, and it became the law of the land once three-quarters of the states ratified it. The process of ratification was established in Article VII of the Constitution, which stated that ratification by the conventions of nine states would be sufficient for the establishment of the Constitution. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, and the Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government.

The Declaration of Independence, drafted in 1776 and signed on August 2, 1776, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and justified its separation from Great Britain. It included a list of grievances against the King of England and proclaimed that all men are created free and equal. The Constitution, on the other hand, defined the framework of the federal government and enumerated the fundamental rights alluded to in the Declaration.

Explore related products

America's Heroes and History: A Brian Kilmeade Collection

$33.1 $84

The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights

$9.99

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

$17.27 $35

1000 American History Facts and 101 True Tales: A Journey Through America's Defining Moments and Figures (Bringing History to Life)

$16.01

American History: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

$16.42 $19.99

A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to America's Age of Entitlement, Revised Edition

$16.35 $32

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed by different people

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. They are considered the "bedrock of the American Charters of Freedom", along with the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence, finalised on July 4, 1776, and signed by representatives from all 13 colonies on August 2, 1776, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It included a list of grievances against the King of England and stated that all men are created free and equal.

The US Constitution, on the other hand, was written and signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. It formed the federal government, set the laws of the land, and continues to be the supreme law. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which was convened to address the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation in governing the 13 states.

Despite the common misconception that the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were drafted and signed by the same people, only six men signed both documents: George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson. Thomas Jefferson, the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence, was not involved in writing the Constitution as he was serving as the American Minister to France in 1787. James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution", along with Gouverneur Morris and James Wilson, was one of the principal architects of the Constitution and went on to serve as the fourth President of the United States.

The US Constitution formed the federal government and set the laws of the land

The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are two of the most important documents in American history. They are often confused, but there are important differences between the two. The Declaration of Independence, finalised on July 4, 1776, and signed by representatives from all 13 colonies on August 2, 1776, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It also included a list of grievances against the King of England.

The US Constitution, on the other hand, was written and signed in 1787 and formed the federal government and set the laws of the land. It was an entirely new system of government envisioned for the American people. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate, thoughtful deliberation among the delegates. It was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The delegates debated, argued, and compromised in secrecy for four months.

The Constitution did not go into effect immediately after it was signed. It needed to be ratified by the states. Article VII of the Constitution established that ratification by the conventions of nine states would be sufficient for the establishment of the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution. The Constitution was deliberately written in the present tense to make it a "living document".

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are both part of the Charters of Freedom, a group of documents that also includes the Bill of Rights. These documents are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States and are enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives. They establish the guiding principles of the United States, which are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect.

Frequently asked questions