Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, is considered a symbol of liberty and equality in the eyes of Americans. The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, mentions a Creator God and natural law, and the US Constitution is based on these principles. The word creator is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, but the concept of a Creator God is alluded to in the recognition of individual rights and freedoms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The word "creator" in the US Constitution | The word "creator" is not in the US Constitution, but it is in the Declaration of Independence |
| The word "God" in the US Constitution | The word "God" is not in the US Constitution, but it is in the constitutions of most states |
| The philosophical basis of the US Constitution | The US Constitution is based on the idea of a Creator God, who is the ultimate ruler and lawmaker |
| The role of the Declaration of Independence | The Declaration of Independence laid the groundwork for the American philosophy and is fused with the Constitution in the minds of Americans |
| The role of the Bill of Rights | The Bill of Rights enumerates the fundamental freedoms of the American people, which are alluded to in the Declaration of Independence and implicit in the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence mentions a Creator God
The United States Declaration of Independence of 1776 mentions a Creator God and a moral, natural law and natural rights. The Declaration acknowledges God as the Creator and Supreme Judge, recognising that all individual citizens, as human beings created by God, possess certain unalienable rights and freedoms.
The first mention of God in the Declaration of Independence occurs in the very first sentence, which refers to the source of power being the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God". This acknowledges that power is given by God, rather than created by the founders. The second reference to God in the Declaration is as the Creator Who endows humans with unalienable rights, or natural rights. This idea is reiterated in the second paragraph, which states 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 was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was a Deist and rejected the notion that the Bible was divinely inspired. He believed in the Abrahamic God and in Jesus as a moral teacher. The inclusion of the Creator God in the Declaration of Independence laid the groundwork for the American philosophy and the US Constitution, which is based on the rule of just law and the recognition of citizens' legal rights and protections.
It is important to note that the United States is a secular nation, and the US Constitution established a secular republic under Enlightenment values. The First Amendment guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", and the legal authority of the government is derived from the people, not from any religion or God.
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The US Constitution is based on the Declaration's principles
The US Constitution is based on the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration, written in 1776, laid the groundwork for the American philosophy, with its reference to a Creator God, natural law, and natural rights. The Constitution, established later, was based on these principles, recognising citizens' legal rights and protections.
The Declaration of Independence states: "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 excerpt acknowledges a Creator as the source of unalienable rights, which governments are formed to secure. The idea of a Creator God is central to this, with the belief that God, as the Creator, is the highest moral authority and the ultimate ruler and law-maker of mankind.
The US Constitution begins with the words: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Here, the Constitution reflects the Declaration's principles of liberty, justice, and the rights of the people.
The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are often viewed as fused in the minds of Americans, as they represent the liberty and equality that are fundamental to the nation. While the Declaration made promises about fundamental liberties, these liberties became legally enforceable when they were enumerated in the Constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights.
The principles of the Declaration have been used as a guide in shaping constitutional amendments and laws. For example, Lincoln's vision of equality, inspired by the Declaration, was later embodied in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which formally ended slavery and guaranteed equal protection under the law. Thus, the US Constitution built upon the principles established in the Declaration of Independence, giving them legal force and shaping the rights and freedoms of the nation.
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The Creator God is the basis for all authority and law
The United States Declaration of Independence of 1776 laid the groundwork for the American philosophy, with its reference to a Creator God and to a moral, natural law and natural rights. The Declaration states:
> 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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The Declaration goes on to assert that when a government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute a new government. This idea of the right to overthrow an unjust government is further elaborated in the following paragraph.
The Founders would later base the US Constitution on these principles, recognising that citizens have certain legal rights and protections. The Constitution begins with the famous words:
> We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention a "Creator God", it does refer to "the year of our Lord" and includes seven mentions of the word "Christian". All but four state constitutions use the word "God" at least once, and God or the divine is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions and nearly 200 times overall.
American Founder, professor, and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson, explained in his 1790-1791 Lectures on Law how the Creator God is the basis for all authority and law. He cited Swiss theorist Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui’s 1748 Principles of Natural Law, which was often used as a textbook during the American founding era. Wilson asserted:
> That our Creator has a supreme right to prescribe a law for our conduct, and that we are under the most perfect obligation to obey that law, are truths established on the clearest and most solid principles.
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The Creator God is recognised as the highest moral authority
The United States Declaration of Independence of 1776 acknowledges a Creator God and a moral, natural law and natural rights. The American Founders laid the groundwork for the American philosophy, and later, the U. S. Constitution was based on these principles. The Declaration of Independence made certain promises about which liberties were fundamental and inherent, but those liberties became legally enforceable when they were enumerated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Declaration of Independence states:
> 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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
In his 1790-1791 Lectures on Law, American Founder, professor, and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson explained how the Creator God is the basis for all authority and law. He cited Swiss theorist Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui's 1748 Principles of Natural Law, which was often used as a textbook during the American founding era. Wilson affirmed the idea that the Creator of mankind is the ultimate ruler and law-maker of mankind, and that humanity's own man-made laws should reflect the Creator's laws.
In the United States, God as Creator and Supreme Judge is recognised as the highest moral authority. All individual citizens, as human beings created by God, are recognised as possessing certain unalienable rights and freedoms. United States citizens have religious freedom and are not required to believe in God. However, it is important for citizens to recognise that individual dignity, rights, and freedoms in the United States are based on the philosophical idea of a Creator God.
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The Creator God is mentioned in state constitutions
The US Constitution makes no explicit mention of a "Creator God". However, the phrase "the year of our Lord" is used in the document. The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, does refer to a "Creator God" and "Nature's God". It acknowledges a Creator as the source of the unalienable rights that governments are formed to secure.
The idea of a Creator God as the source of authority, law, and rights is also found in the state constitutions. All 50 state constitutions acknowledge God, mostly as the Creator, Sustainer, and Bestower of liberty. The Delaware Constitution of 1897, for example, states that "through Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences". The Virginia Bill of Rights refers to the duty that "we owe our Creator", while the Washington State Constitution Preamble mentions gratitude towards the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe".
In total, there are 116 mentions of God in state constitutions, with Massachusetts having the most at eight, and New Hampshire and Vermont each having six. In addition to these explicit mentions, there are also 14 references to a Supreme or Sovereign Being, seven mentions of the "Creator", three of "providence", four of the "divine", and 46 of the "Almighty".
The expression of gratitude towards the Almighty for freedom and liberty is common in state constitutions. For instance, the preambles of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, and Utah all express gratitude to God for their liberties or freedom. These references to God and the divine in state constitutions are seen as acknowledgments of the inherent limitations of human law and power, reflecting a commitment to shared values such as human dignity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the word "creator" is in the US Constitution. The Constitution was founded on the principles of the Declaration of Independence, which mentions a Creator as the source of unalienable rights.
The inclusion of the word "creator" in the US Constitution acknowledges the philosophical idea of a Creator God as the basis for individual rights and freedoms. It establishes the concept that citizens possess certain inherent rights and freedoms derived from their Creator.
The word "creator" appears in the Declaration of Independence, which states that "all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This declaration is considered the foundation of the Constitution.
The word "creator" is included to recognize the philosophical and religious underpinnings of individual rights and freedoms in the United States. It reflects the belief that a Creator God is the ultimate source of authority and law.
The inclusion of "creator" in the US Constitution does not mandate a belief in God or a specific religion. Religious freedom is protected, and citizens are not required to believe in God. However, it acknowledges the influence of religious and philosophical ideas on the concept of individual rights.
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