Independence Declaration's Influence On The Us Constitution

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are foundational documents in American history, with the former influencing the latter in significant ways. The Declaration, written by Thomas Jefferson, announced the 13 colonies' independence from Great Britain and established a new nation based on certain principles. These principles, informed by the Enlightenment ideas of philosophers like John Locke, included the social contract theory, natural law, and the belief that all men are created equal with unalienable rights. The Constitution, adopted later, aimed to bring American positive law closer to these ideals, outlining a more robust government with greater authority to protect citizens' liberties. The influence of the Declaration extended beyond the Constitution, shaping historical movements like abolitionism, women's suffrage, and civil rights.

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The influence of the Declaration of Independence on the abolitionist movement

The Declaration of Independence, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, was formally adopted on July 4, 1776, by members of the Second Continental Congress. It was America's manifesto against British tyranny, proclaiming 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".

The Declaration of Independence had a significant influence on the abolitionist movement in the United States. The statement that "all men are created equal" became a powerful tool for abolitionists, who used it to argue against slavery and for racial equality and justice. This was despite the fact that the Declaration of Independence itself had a deleted slavery passage, which alluded to a 1775 proclamation by British Lord Dunmore, offering freedom to enslaved people in the American colonies who fought for the British against the American patriots.

The abolitionist movement, led by both black and white activists, such as Sojourner Truth, a former slave herself, waged a biracial assault against slavery. They employed various tactics, including petitions, meetings, conferences, boycotts, literature, and music. The influence of the Declaration of Independence can be seen in their efforts, as they drew upon its ideals of liberty and equality to justify their cause.

The Declaration's impact extended beyond the abolitionist movement in the United States. It served as a model for independence and equality movements worldwide, including in places like Haiti (1804), Argentina (1816), and Vietnam (1945). The document's themes and language resonated with people across the globe, inspiring them to fight for their own freedom and rights.

In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence, with its powerful statements on equality and liberty, played a pivotal role in shaping the abolitionist movement in the United States and beyond. It provided a moral and philosophical foundation for those striving to end slavery and secure equal rights for all, regardless of race.

The Declaration's impact on the drafting of the Constitution

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are foundational texts in American history, with the latter being influenced by the former in several ways.

Firstly, the Declaration of Independence was a statement based on natural law, which consists of fundamental principles of justice and rights. The Declaration affirmed that these rights were "endowed by [a] Creator" and were thus unalienable. This idea of natural law influenced the Constitution, which was adopted to bring American positive law closer to these ideals. For example, the Contracts Clause in Article I, Section 10, was designed to prevent states from using a common method of cheating people. While the Constitution was designed to move America closer to natural law principles, it was not a single-minded pursuit of a utopian ideal.

Secondly, the Declaration of Independence affirmed the republican principle of popular government. The Declaration stated that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving [receiving] their just powers from the consent of the governed". This principle of popular sovereignty was also reflected in the Preamble to the Constitution, which stated, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union". This meant that the people of the United States, through their representatives, established the new government, replacing the weaker government under the Articles of Confederation.

Thirdly, the Declaration of Independence influenced the abolitionist movement, with the language of inalienable rights being used to seek an end to slavery in Massachusetts as early as 1777. This invocation of the Declaration's principles led to Supreme Court decisions in Massachusetts ruling slavery unconstitutional in 1783.

Finally, the Declaration of Independence inspired many Members of Congress and American colonists with its articulation of ideas such as self-governance and separation from Great Britain. Thomas Paine's pamphlet, "Common Sense", published in 1776, also influenced the drafters of the Declaration of Independence by arguing that ordinary people had the capacity to govern themselves without the need for a crowned official.

The Declaration's role in Abraham Lincoln's conception of freedom

Abraham Lincoln considered the Declaration of Independence, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to be American scripture. He referred to these documents as the "American civil religion". Lincoln's conception of freedom was deeply influenced by the Declaration's proclamation 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".

Lincoln understood freedom to be a vital but fragile concept that needed to be nurtured. He believed that the extension of freedom to all people was a fundamental principle of the Declaration of Independence and that it was incompatible with slavery. In a speech in Peoria, Illinois, he said:

> "Little by little, but steadily as man’s march to the grave, we have been giving up the OLD for the NEW faith. Near eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration, that for SOME men to enslave OTHERS is a ‘sacred right of self-government.' These principles can not stand together. They are as opposite as God and mammon; and whoever holds to the one, must despise the other."

Lincoln's views on freedom were also shaped by his belief that liberty, work, and justice were closely connected concepts. He argued that the word "liberty" had no good definition and that people used the same word to mean different, and sometimes incompatible, things. For some, liberty meant the freedom to do as one pleased with oneself and the product of one's labor, while for others, it meant the freedom to do as one pleased with other people and the product of other people's labor.

Lincoln's conception of freedom was also influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of English philosopher John Locke, which also shaped the Declaration of Independence. Locke's philosophy of the "social contract" between the governed and those governing greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration.

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The influence on the campaign for women's suffrage

The Declaration of Independence, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution of the United States of America are foundational documents that established the United States' guiding principles. The Declaration of Independence, influenced by Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" and John Locke's philosophy of the "social contract", articulated the ideas of self-governance and equality.

The influence of these documents extended to the campaign for women's suffrage, which began in the mid-19th century. Women like Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, Judith Sargent Murray, and British philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft advocated for women's rights through their writing, questioning the status quo and fueling conversations about women's equality. Adams, in particular, encouraged her husband, John Adams, to "Remember the ladies" as he helped draft the Declaration of Independence.

In July 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. This convention produced the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled on the Declaration of Independence, which called for equal educational and professional opportunities for women, as well as the right to control their wages and property. The Declaration of Sentiments opened with the same phrase as the Declaration of Independence, with Stanton adding the words "and women." This declaration marked a turning point in the women's suffrage movement, as it explicitly stated the goal of women's suffrage and outlined various resolutions for the women's rights movement.

The efforts of these early advocates laid the groundwork for subsequent generations of suffragists who continued the fight for voting rights. They employed various tactics, including lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and civil disobedience, often facing ridicule and opposition. The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), formed by Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), founded by Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, sent petitions to Congress requesting suffrage rights for women. Despite setbacks and criticism, women suffragists persisted, staging large parades and using more confrontational tactics to draw attention to their cause. Eventually, in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

The Declaration's impact on modern conservative originalism

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are foundational texts that form the bedrock of the American Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, announced the independence of the American colonies from Great Britain and created a new nation. The US Constitution, adopted later, was designed to move American positive law closer to the natural law ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence was influenced by the Enlightenment, a 17th-century intellectual movement in Europe that sparked new ideas about humanity, science, government, human rights, and reason. The English philosopher John Locke was particularly influential, expanding on the notion of the social contract between the governed and the governing. Thomas Paine's pamphlet, "Common Sense," published in 1776, also played a significant role in influencing the drafters of the Declaration of Independence. Paine argued that ordinary people had the capacity to govern themselves and did not need to be led by a crowned official.

The Declaration of Independence affirmed the republican principle of popular government, stating that "all men are created equal" and endowed by their Creator with certain "unalienable rights," including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It emphasised that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed and that the people are the source of all sovereignty or authority. This principle of popular sovereignty was also reflected in the Preamble to the US Constitution, which stated, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union."

The impact of the Declaration of Independence on the US Constitution is evident in several aspects. Firstly, the US Constitution was designed to address the weaknesses of the previous government under the Articles of Confederation, which had limited power to govern effectively and protect liberty. The new government under the Constitution was intended to have greater authority to pass and enforce laws that promoted and protected citizens' liberty, while also being limited to specific tasks to prevent it from becoming too powerful. This balance reflected the ideals of government by consent argued for in the Declaration of Independence.

Additionally, the Declaration of Independence influenced the abolitionist movement, with free African Americans invoking its language of inalienable rights to petition for an end to slavery. The language of the Declaration was also used in Supreme Court decisions in Massachusetts, ruling slavery unconstitutional in the state constitution.

The Declaration of Independence's impact extended beyond the abolition of slavery. It influenced Abraham Lincoln's conception of freedom after the Civil War, the Seneca Falls Convention and the campaign for women's suffrage, the Progressive movement and the New Deal, and the Civil Rights revolution.

In the context of modern conservative originalism, the Declaration of Independence continues to be relevant. Originalism is a judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution based on its original meaning at the time of its drafting. Modern conservative originalists emphasise a return to the founding principles of the nation, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. They seek to apply these principles to contemporary issues, often advocating for a strict interpretation of the Constitution and a limited role for the federal government.

In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence had a significant impact on the US Constitution and continues to influence modern conservative originalism. It laid the foundation for the nation's guiding principles, including popular sovereignty, natural law, and individual rights, which are reflected in the US Constitution and remain important in contemporary political discourse and judicial interpretation.

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