Simone Lawson
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They are considered the Charters of Freedom, securing the rights of the American people. The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and its intention to separate from Great Britain. The Constitution, drafted in 1787, outlines the framework of the Federal Government and the laws of the land. While the Declaration and the Constitution share some similarities, they serve distinct purposes and have important differences. This raises the question: do these foundational texts share any words?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, while the Constitution was written in 1787 |
| Authors | The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, while James Madison is considered the "Father of the Constitution" |
| Number of signatures | The Declaration of Independence has 56 signatures, while the Constitution has 39 |
| Number of Amendments | The Declaration of Independence has none, while the Constitution originally had 12 |
| Purpose | The Declaration of Independence states the independence of the United States from Great Britain and lists grievances against the King of England. The Constitution forms the federal government, sets the laws of the land, and defines the framework of the US government. |
| Rights | The Declaration of Independence articulates rights that were later enumerated in the Bill of Rights. The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights, defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted 11 years apart
- The documents were written by different people
- The Declaration of Independence has no amendments, while the Constitution had 12
- The Declaration of Independence has more signatures than the Constitution
- The documents have different purposes
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted 11 years apart
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. They are considered the “Charters of Freedom” and have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries. Despite being drafted 11 years apart, they share similarities and differences and are often fused together in the minds of Americans.
The Declaration of Independence was finalised on July 4, 1776, and signed by representatives from the 13 colonies on August 2. It expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and states its independence from Great Britain. The document includes a list of grievances against the King of England and asserts the inherent rights and liberties of the American people.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was written during the Constitutional Convention from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and sets the laws of the land. The Constitution originally had 12 amendments, while the Declaration of Independence has none.
Despite being written over a decade apart, both documents were drafted by a congress and a convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now known as Independence Hall). They were also created by people of similar backgrounds—generally educated white men of property.
Only six men signed both documents: George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson. This dispels the common misconception that the same people drafted and signed both documents.
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The documents were written by different people
The United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are two of the most important documents in American history. They were written by different people, at different times, and in different contexts, but both were composed during periods of great political and social change.
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. It was authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, who was part of the Committee of Five, along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration in isolation between June 11 and June 28, 1776, and it was then edited by the Committee and later by the entire Congress. The Declaration was formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, as the colonies declared independence from Great Britain.
On the other hand, the Constitution was written and signed by a group of delegates, not a single individual, in 1787, years after the Revolutionary War had ended. The drafting, often referred to as its framing, took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, also known as Independence Hall. The delegates were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives. The Convention's initial goal was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution, but the delegates ultimately crafted a new framework of government.
While Jefferson is recognized as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, he was not present at the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, including George Washington, who presided over the Convention, and James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his significant contributions.
The differences in authorship between the two documents can be attributed to their distinct purposes and historical contexts. The Declaration of Independence was a formal statement justifying the colonies' decision to break away from British rule, while the Constitution was designed to establish the framework of the new nation's government and guarantee certain rights and liberties.
Despite being written by different people, the two documents are intrinsically linked. The Declaration of Independence laid the foundation for the values and principles that would be enshrined in the Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights. Jefferson's ideas in the Declaration, influenced by thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Paine, articulated rights that would later be enumerated and legally enforced in the Constitution.
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The Declaration of Independence has no amendments, while the Constitution had 12
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are two of the most important documents in American history. They are often confused with each other, but they serve different purposes. The Declaration of Independence, formally The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, explains why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule. It was drafted by a committee of five—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman—and was unanimously adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, "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", is considered one of the most significant and famed lines in world history.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was written in 1787 and created a federal government with a stronger national government that shared power with the states. It was drafted by a convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitution had 12 amendments at the time of its drafting, while the Declaration of Independence has never been amended. The reason for this difference lies in the nature of the documents. The Declaration of Independence is a statement of principles and ideals, declaring the independence of the Thirteen Colonies and outlining the reasons for this separation. It did not establish a new government or outline its structure, except to say that it should be established by "the consent of the governed" and should respect fundamental rights.
The Constitution, on the other hand, is the foundational document of the US government, outlining its structure and powers. It is a living document, meant to be amended and updated as the nation evolved. The amendments to the Constitution were made to address specific issues and clarify certain aspects of the government's powers and the rights of the people. For example, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, which formally ended slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and gave African-American men the right to vote, respectively. These amendments were made after the Civil War to address the issues of slavery and equal rights for former slaves.
The Declaration of Independence, while not legally binding, provided the foundation for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It articulated the fundamental freedoms and liberties of the American people, which were later enumerated and made legally enforceable in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence has served as a guide and inspiration for subsequent movements for greater rights and equality, such as the women's suffrage movement, which used the Declaration as a basis for their Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. This effort culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
In conclusion, while the Declaration of Independence has not been amended, it has had a lasting impact on the nation's history and continues to inspire efforts to secure greater liberty and equality for all. The Constitution, with its 12 amendments, provides the legal framework for the US government and ensures the protection of the rights and freedoms declared in the Declaration of Independence.
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The Declaration of Independence has more signatures than the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. Both documents were drafted by a congress and convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, but at different times: the Declaration in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates, with the majority signing on 2nd August 1776, but signatures continued through the fall of 1776 and perhaps as late as 1781. The document was most likely engrossed by Timothy Matlack. The Constitution, on the other hand, was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and required four sheets of parchment, with the signatures on the fourth sheet. Pennsylvania had the largest representation in both documents, with nine delegates signing the Declaration and eight signing the Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence was a statement of sentiments widely shared by supporters of the American Revolution. It was not a philosophical tract about natural rights, but rather a legal document indicting King George for violating the constitutional rights of the colonists. The document was signed by John Hancock, President of the Congress, and its adoption was dramatized in various award-winning films and musicals. The Declaration of Independence made promises about fundamental liberties, which later became legally enforceable when they were enumerated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was signed on 17th September 1787, with only one day of signing, evidenced by the first newspaper printings of the document, which included a list of all the signers. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, with George Washington, the President, being one of the signatories. Benjamin Franklin, who was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence, was the oldest signer of both documents.
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The documents have different purposes
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are considered the three most important documents in American history. They are all imbued with the values of liberty and equality, and they have influenced each other in America's ongoing quest for freedom and fairness. However, it is important to note that each document has a distinct purpose and historical context.
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson as part of a committee formed by the Second Continental Congress. The committee included notable figures such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. At the time, the delegates were undecided about separating from Great Britain, and Jefferson's task was to articulate the reasons for breaking away. The Declaration was designed to justify the colonies' independence and their separation from the British Crown. It proclaimed that the colonies were now free and independent states, with the power to wage war, establish peace, form alliances, and engage in commerce.
On the other hand, the Constitution was drafted in 1787, over a decade after the Declaration, by a different group of people. The Constitution was created to establish a new government and outline its structure and powers. While the Declaration focused on independence and freedom from external rule, the Constitution aimed to create an energetic and empowered central government that could preserve liberty and ensure equality for the people of the newly formed United States.
The Constitution has been amended multiple times, with 27 amendments made to adapt it to the changing needs of American society. In contrast, the Declaration of Independence stands alone and has never been amended. It remains a powerful symbol of the nation's founding ideals and has influenced significant moments in American history, such as the Seneca Falls Convention, where women fought for equal suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement, where African Americans fought for their rights and equality.
In summary, while the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution share similarities and have influenced each other, they serve different purposes. The Declaration was designed to justify breaking away from a government, while the Constitution was created to establish a new government and outline its powers and limitations. The Declaration stands as an enduring statement of fundamental freedoms, while the Constitution provides the legal framework to protect and ensure those freedoms for the American people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Declaration of Independence states that the United States of America is a country independent of England and includes a list of grievances against the King of England. The Constitution, on the other hand, formed the federal government and set the laws of the land.
Both documents have preambles. The preamble to the Declaration of Independence begins with the famous sentence: "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." The U.S. Constitution begins with "We the people of the United States of America," which is notable because it shows that the Constitution is "of the people, for the people, and by the people."
No, Jefferson was not involved in writing the Constitution and was serving as the American Minister to France in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention. Only six men—George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson—signed both documents.
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