Jonah Patel
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are considered the founding documents of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, adopted in July 1776, announced the independence of the United States and expressed the ideals on which the nation was founded. It is not legally binding but is a powerful statement of principles. The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the federal government and is legally enforceable. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, outlines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government. While the Declaration of Independence was important in announcing and justifying the separation from Great Britain, it did not replace the Constitution but rather laid the groundwork for it. The Constitution was ratified over a decade after the Declaration and built upon the principles outlined in it, such as equality and liberty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption | July 1776 |
| Purpose | To announce the independence of the United States |
| Legally binding | No |
| Relation to the Constitution | The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States |
| Relation to the Bill of Rights | The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, defining citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government |
| Relation to slavery | Abraham Lincoln believed that the Founding Fathers had tolerated slavery with the expectation that it would ultimately end |
| Relation to equality | Lincoln believed that the concept that "all men are created equal" remained a part of the nation's founding principles |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence and its role in the American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, was a pivotal moment in the American Revolution, as it officially severed the 13 American colonies' political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarised the colonists' motivations for seeking independence and outlined the ideals on which the United States was founded. It was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
In the years leading up to the Declaration, tensions between the colonies and Great Britain had been escalating. The colonies were subject to a series of measures enacted by the British Parliament, including the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts, which were designed to increase revenue from the colonies. The colonists argued that Parliament had no right to levy taxes on them as they were not directly represented in Parliament. This tax dispute was part of a larger divergence in interpretations of the British Constitution and the extent of Parliament's authority in the colonies.
As a result, colonial governments sent delegates to a Continental Congress to coordinate a colonial boycott of British goods. In January 1776, Thomas Paine's pamphlet, "Common Sense", further fuelled the movement for independence by making a persuasive case for it and presenting a distinctly American political identity. By February 1776, colonial leaders were discussing forming foreign alliances, and Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion in Congress to declare independence in June of that year.
The Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, were tasked with drafting the Declaration. Jefferson, a bold and talented political writer, wrote the original draft, which was then edited by the Second Continental Congress. The Declaration was intended to be read aloud and served its purpose in announcing the independence of the United States. However, in the years immediately following the American Revolution, it was given little attention, and its language was not incorporated into the United States Constitution.
The Declaration's role in the American Revolution was significant as it provided a formal and unified statement of the colonists' intentions and ideals. It helped secure an official alliance with the Government of France, obtaining French assistance in the war against Great Britain. The Declaration also set a precedent for future nations seeking independence and has come to be regarded as a classic statement of American political principles.
Philosophers' Influence on the American Constitution
You may want to see also
The Constitution's framework for the Federal Government
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country, superseding the Articles of Confederation in 1789. It defines the framework of the Federal Government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary.
The legislative power is vested in a bicameral Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is made up of members elected for two-year terms, representing districts of equal numbers of people. On the other hand, the Senate has two senators representing each state. Congress passes laws, but the President can veto them.
The executive power is held by the President, who can prosecute persons for criminal violations, but they must be tried by the courts. The President also appoints federal judges, but their appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.
The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and other federal courts created by Congress. The judiciary tries criminal cases and interprets the Constitution, with the Supreme Court having the final say on constitutional matters.
The Constitution also establishes federalism, which is the division of power between the national government and the state governments. While the federal government has significant power over the states, it is limited to the powers explicitly enumerated in the Constitution. Powers not delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people.
The Constitution further serves to protect the personal liberty of citizens from government intrusion. It includes provisions such as the prohibition of ex post facto laws and bills of attainder. The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments, offers additional protections of individual rights and liberties, as well as restrictions on the powers of the government.
The Constitution provides a system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch of government. It also ensures that the rights of minorities are protected and limits the ability of those in office to extend their terms.
Shays' Rebellion: Prelude to the US Constitution
You may want to see also
The Bill of Rights and its amendments
The United States Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are collectively known as the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and its reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States.
The Bill of Rights, which became law on December 15, 1791, is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. James Madison wrote the amendments to limit government power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. It also prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, while the Third Amendment prevents the government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections for people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury. The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Ninth Amendment states that citizens also have other rights that are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. Finally, the Tenth Amendment says that the Federal Government only has the powers delegated to it by the Constitution, and any powers not listed are reserved for the states or the people.
Other amendments to the Constitution include the Eighteenth, which established the prohibition of alcohol, and the Twenty-First, which repealed it. The Eleventh Amendment gave US citizens the right to vote and the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments abolished slavery and guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race.
Religious Establishment Issues: Constitutional Test Examination
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The influence of the Declaration on the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect. These rights include common-law rights, which come from British sources like the Magna Carta, and natural rights, which the Founding Fathers believed came from God. The Declaration, however, was designed to justify breaking away from a government, while the Constitution and Bill of Rights were designed to establish a government. The Declaration stands on its own and has never been amended, while the Constitution has been amended 27 times. The fundamental freedoms of the American people were alluded to in the Declaration of Independence, implicit in the Constitution, and enumerated in the Bill of Rights.
The Declaration of Independence was also an internationally influential statement of human rights. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, viewed it as the moral standard to which the United States should strive and considered it a statement of principles through which the Constitution should be interpreted. Lincoln's famous 1863 Gettysburg Address, widely considered one of the most famous speeches in American history, took the Declaration's second sentence as its centerpiece: "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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This sentence is considered one of the most significant and famous lines in world history.
The Declaration of Independence also influenced the French Revolution, particularly the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789). Lafayette prepared its key drafts, working closely in Paris with Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration also had an impact on the Russian Empire, especially the Decembrist revolt and other Russian thinkers.
The Declaration of Independence, however, was given little attention in the years immediately following the American Revolution, having served its original purpose of announcing the independence of the United States. Early celebrations of Independence Day largely ignored the Declaration, as did early histories of the Revolution. The act of declaring independence was considered important, but the text announcing it attracted little attention. The Declaration was rarely mentioned during debates about the Constitution, and its language was not incorporated into that document.
Constitution Camps: Who Had to Attend?
You may want to see also
The liberties and freedoms outlined in both documents
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of America's founding documents. They are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States.
Liberties and Freedoms in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence outlines certain unalienable rights, including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". It also states that governments are instituted among men to secure these rights. The document further emphasizes the equality of all men and their endowment by their Creator with these rights.
The Declaration also includes the right to be free from political connection to another state, the right to levy war and conclude peace, the right to contract alliances, and the right to establish commerce.
Liberties and Freedoms in the Constitution
The Constitution, through the Bill of Rights, defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights, written by James Madison, to limit government power and protect individual liberties.
The First Amendment includes the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. It also protects the right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition the government. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, and the Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in houses without consent.
The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens' right to privacy, protecting them from unreasonable government intrusion into their homes without a warrant. The Ninth Amendment clarifies that the listing of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not explicitly mentioned. Finally, the Tenth Amendment outlines the powers of the Federal Government, stating that it only has those powers delegated to it by the Constitution.
Dimethyl Maleate and Fumarate: Constitutional Isomers?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States.
The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain.
No, the US Constitution did not replace the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is one of the founding documents of the United States, and it continues to be influential and powerful. The Constitution, on the other hand, provides the framework for the Federal Government and enumerates the liberties outlined in the Declaration of Independence.
![A History of Violence (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71lqpbUFtWL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
