Eleanor Finch
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect. 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. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, on the other hand, were designed to establish a government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of parts | 3 |
| Part 1 | Preamble |
| Part 2 | Lists the wrongdoings of the King of Great Britain |
| Part 3 | Declares independence from Great Britain and the dissolution of all political connections with the British Crown |
| Purpose | Justify breaking away from a government |
| Similar documents | The Constitution and the Bill of Rights |
| Authors | Educated white men of property |
| Location | Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia |
| Year | 1776 |
| Amendments | 0 |
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What You'll Learn
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...
The second part of the Declaration of Independence lists the wrongdoings of the King of Great Britain. The third part declares independence from Britain and states that all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" of America should be dissolved.
The Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are different kinds of documents with different purposes. The Declaration was designed to justify breaking away from a government, while the Constitution and Bill of Rights were designed to establish a government. The Declaration has never been amended, while the Constitution has been amended 27 times.
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The Constitution
Article I of the Constitution covers the legislative branch of the US government, including the powers granted to Congress. Article II covers the executive branch, including the powers and duties of the President. Article III covers the judicial branch, including the powers of the Supreme Court. The Constitution also includes provisions for establishing inferior tribunals to the Supreme Court, defining and punishing crimes, declaring war, raising and supporting armies, and organizing the militia.
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The Bill of Rights
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history, collectively known as the Charters of Freedom. They are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect.
The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It outlines the powers of the government, including the ability to declare war, raise and support armies, and define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas. It also establishes the jurisdiction of the supreme court and guarantees the right to a trial by jury.
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The Charters of Freedom
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are based on the principle that all individuals have fundamental rights that governments are established to protect. These rights include common-law rights derived from sources such as the British Magna Carta, and natural rights, which the Founders believed were bestowed by God. The Founders held that these natural rights are inherent in all people by virtue of their humanity and that certain rights, such as life and liberty, are inalienable, meaning they cannot be surrendered to the government under any circumstances.
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, has three main parts. The first is a preamble, which, though largely ignored at the time, later became the most famous part of the document. It contains the entire theory of American government in a single, inspiring passage: "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". The second part lists the grievances against the King of Great Britain, and the third part declares independence from Britain and the dissolution of all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" of America.
The Constitution, which defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, was drafted by a congress that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1787. It has an original handwritten version, inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment, which is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The Constitution has been amended 27 times.
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It defines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government.
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The Federal Government
The Constitution, one of the three Charters of Freedom, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It is the second of the three most important documents in American history, drafted by a convention that met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitution has an original handwritten version, as well as a printed final version. The final version was printed by John Dunlap, the official printer of the Declaration, and his partner, David C. Claypoole.
The Constitution has a preamble, which sets the stage for the document and communicates the intentions of its framers. The framers of the Constitution were educated white men of property, a similar background to the drafters of the Declaration and the Bill of Rights. The preamble is not a law, but the highest law of the land. It outlines the aspirations of "We the People" for the government and the nation. The first of five objectives outlined in the preamble is to "establish justice".
The Constitution defines the powers of the Federal Government of the United States. The Federal Government is given powers such as the ability to declare war, raise and support armies, and define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas. The Federal Government also has the power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. It can also organise, arm, and discipline the militia, while reserving the authority of training the militia to the states.
The Constitution also outlines the role of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and cases in which a state is a party. In all other cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, as outlined by Congress. The Constitution states that the trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be decided by a jury in the state where the crime was committed.
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Frequently asked questions
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 the dissolution of all political connections to the British Crown.
The three documents that make up the Charters of Freedom are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These documents are considered the most important in American history, securing the rights of the American people and influencing the philosophy of the United States.
The Constitution is divided into a preamble, articles, and sections. The preamble sets the stage and communicates the intentions and purpose of the document. The articles are the main organizational divisions, and the sections are the sub-divisions that contain specific provisions and laws. For example, Article I, Section 8 contains provisions related to piracies and felonies on the high seas.
