Isabella Carter
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are three of the most important documents in American history. The Declaration of Independence, adopted in July 1776, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It is not legally binding but is considered a powerful symbol of freedom and equality. The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and is a legally enforceable document. Both documents, along with the Bill of Rights, form the foundation of the American Charters of Freedom, representing the guiding principles of the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption | Declaration of Independence: July 1776 |
| Constitution: September 1787 | |
| Date of war ending | 1783 |
| Date of drafting | Declaration of Independence: 1776 |
| Constitution: 1787 | |
| People involved | Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. |
| Constitution: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, George Washington | |
| Benjamin Franklin | |
| Location of drafting | Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia |
| Legally binding | Declaration of Independence: No |
| Constitution: Yes | |
| Purpose | Declaration of Independence: Expressing the ideals on which the United States was founded, announcing the independence of the United States, and reasons for separation from Great Britain |
| Constitution: Defining the framework of the Federal Government of the United States | |
| Both: Establishing the United States' guiding principles | |
| Declaration of Independence: Influencing the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence
The ideas in the Declaration of Independence were influenced by other documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights and George Mason's draft of the same, as well as de Vattel's "The Law of Nations", an international law treatise that was popular at the time. The Declaration was also shaped by the political philosophy of the American Revolution and the sentiment that the colonies should be independent from Great Britain.
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The Constitution of the United States
The Constitution was written after the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in July 1776. The Declaration expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and outlined the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It was a statement of widely shared sentiments and political philosophy, influenced by Thomas Jefferson's preamble of the Constitution of Virginia and George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights. The Declaration is not legally binding, but it is a powerful symbol of American identity and a guide for the country's principles and government.
The Constitution, on the other hand, is a legally binding document that enumerates the fundamental freedoms alluded to in the Declaration of Independence. It is one of the three Charters of Freedom, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These documents are considered the most important in American history and represent the country's ongoing quest for liberty and equality.
The Constitution was drafted by the delegates of twelve states (Rhode Island did not send a representative) who assembled in Philadelphia to revise the ineffective Articles of Confederation. For four months, they debated and compromised in secrecy, ultimately creating an entirely new system of government for the American people. The Constitution was then ratified by three-quarters of the states, becoming the law of the land.
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The Bill of Rights
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are considered the founding documents of the United States, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, adopted in July 1776, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and outlined the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It served as an indictment against King George III for violating the constitutional rights of the colonists.
The first amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government. The second amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms. 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 of their persons or property. The fifth amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes, including the right against self-incrimination and protection from double jeopardy. The sixth amendment provides additional protections for the accused, including the right to a speedy and public trial and an impartial jury.
The ninth amendment addresses unenumerated rights, such as travel, political affiliation, and privacy, while the fourteenth amendment has been used to claim rights to personal liberty. The Bill of Rights was strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, as well as English documents such as the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights.
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The Charters of Freedom
The Declaration of Independence, adopted in July 1776, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and outlines the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. It is a legal document that indicts King George III for violating the constitutional rights of the colonists. The Declaration was influenced by Thomas Jefferson's draft of the preamble of the Constitution of Virginia, and George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, both written in June 1776.
The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution and outlines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government.
The Rotunda, designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy, features two murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
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The Federal Government
The Constitution of the United States of America defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It was drafted by a congress that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1787, following the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Constitution was designed to clarify what the "United States" meant, as by the time the war ended in 1783, it was unclear whether the thirteen states were a collective that made one sovereign nation or thirteen independent nations.
The Constitutional Convention ended on September 17, 1787, with an entirely new system of government envisioned for the American people. The document was then taken to each state, where it would be ratified by three-quarters of the states to become the law of the land. The Federalist Papers, published by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, played a crucial role in securing the Constitution’s ratification in several key states.
The Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are considered the three most important documents in American history. They are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, and they have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries. The Charters of Freedom are enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives, where they are displayed in an altar-like setting.
The Constitution was deliberately written in the present tense to make it a "living document". It defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government, and it is the first ten amendments to the Constitution that make up the Bill of Rights.
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Frequently asked questions
The Declaration of Independence is a document that expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It was adopted in July 1776, after the Thirteen Colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain had been at war for over a year.
The Constitution of the United States of America defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It was drafted by a convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1787. Once three-quarters of the states ratified the Constitution, it became the law of the land.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights, are considered the three most important documents in American history. They form the foundation of the American Charters of Freedom, representing the liberty and equality that are fundamental to the United States. While the Declaration of Independence made promises about fundamental liberties, it was the Constitution that made these liberties legally enforceable.
