Who Really Wrote The Constitution And The Declaration?

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom and have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and announced the independence of the United States from Great Britain. The Constitution was written a few years after the Revolutionary War, as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, and it was signed on September 17, 1787. So, did the writers of the Constitution write the Declaration?

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Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is divided into three parts. The first part, the preamble, later became the most famous part of the document, although it was largely ignored at the time. The second part lists the wrongdoings of the King of Great Britain, and the third part declares independence from Britain, stating that the 13 colonies are "Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown" and that all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" are dissolved.

The Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most important documents in American history, expressing the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It begins with the famous sentence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," capturing the essence of the ideals that would come to define the United States.

The Constitution, on the other hand, was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with an additional signature by George Reed on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, who created a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states.

The Constitution was written by a committee

The United States Constitution was written by a committee of delegates during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the final document was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.

The Constitutional Convention was assembled in response to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. Alexander Hamilton helped persuade Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, many of whom made important contributions. The Committee of Detail, which included Oliver Ellsworth, Nathaniel Gorham, Edmund Randolph, John Rutledge, and James Wilson, was tasked with putting the delegates' decisions in writing. Near the end of the convention, a Committee of Style condensed 23 articles into seven in less than four days. The Committee of Style included Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, and Gouverneur Morris. Other notable delegates included Benjamin Franklin, who served as the convention's president, and George Washington.

The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and is considered one of the most important documents in American history. It is the world's shortest and oldest national constitution, inspiring the world with its powerful vision of freedom and governance in the hands of the people. The Constitution put forth a completely new form of government, creating a powerful central government while remaining loyal to the individual states.

The Declaration was influenced by de Vattel's The Law of Nations

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, expressing the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain.

The Declaration was influenced by Emmerich de Vattel's "The Law of Nations", which was published in 1758. De Vattel was a Swiss jurist, philosopher, and diplomat, and his work on the law of nations was highly influential. "The Law of Nations" was a treatise on international law, offering a guide for states to emerge as credible actors on the international stage. It provided reasons for sovereignty, independence, international recognition, and equality among states, outlining the rights and obligations of nations and how they should behave. De Vattel's work was particularly relevant to the American context, as it justified the freedom of the seas and the rejection of British trade restrictions.

De Vattel's work was influenced by Christian Wolff's "Jus Gentium Methodo Scientifica Pertractum" (The Law of Nations According to the Scientific Method). De Vattel translated Wolff's text from Latin and added his own thoughts. He also engaged with the ideas of his Swiss contemporary, Rousseau, on the question of sociality. De Vattel's work was not intended to be original but to systematize and make accessible the ideas governing the conduct among nations.

"The Law of Nations" was introduced to the American colonies in 1762, and its ideas circulated widely among leading statesmen. It was one of the overdue library books of President George Washington, and copies were sent to Benjamin Franklin and the Library Company of Philadelphia. The influence of De Vattel's work extended to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the early American republic. De Vattel's ideas on international law and the rights and obligations of nations provided a framework for the founding documents of the United States and their vision of freedom and independence.

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The Declaration was rarely mentioned during Constitution debates

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, and the Constitution was written in 1787. The Declaration was rarely mentioned during the debates about the United States Constitution, and its language was not incorporated into that document.

The Declaration of Independence was drafted by a congress that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1776. The document was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was elected chair of the committee. Jefferson had 17 days to produce the document and reportedly wrote a draft in a day or two. The Declaration of Independence has three parts: a preamble, a list of the sins of the King of Great Britain, and a declaration of independence from Britain and its political connections.

The Constitution, on the other hand, was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the original signed, handwritten Constitution is now at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, who came up with a completely new form of government. Many people, including James Madison, made important contributions, particularly those who served on the Committee of Detail and the Committee of Style.

The Declaration and the Constitution had different purposes. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It is a legal document that indicts King George for violating the constitutional rights of the colonists. On the other hand, the Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It establishes a powerful central government and outlines the rights and freedoms that it protects.

The Declaration and Constitution were drafted by similar people

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom. These documents have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.

The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, who was elected chair of the committee. The document was an indictment against King George III for violating the constitutional rights of the colonists. It lists the "sins" of the King of Great Britain, and declares independence from Britain, stating that all political connections between the British Crown and the new nation are dissolved.

The Constitution, written in 1787, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It was drafted by a convention of state delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, who feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The delegates met in Philadelphia and created a powerful central government, crafting compromises between wildly different interests and views. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with one additional signature added later, bringing the total to 39.

Both the Declaration and the Constitution were drafted by people of similar backgrounds - generally educated white men of property. The documents were also both drafted in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall, albeit over a decade apart. The Declaration and the Constitution were also both preceded by passionate and thoughtful deliberation, with the former being influenced by works such as George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights and de Vattel's The Law of Nations.

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