Omar Bennett
The American Constitution was designed to prevent tyranny and protect individual rights and liberties. The first principles of the American Constitution include the principle of decentralised government, where power is on the local level with each individual American and the states. The framers of the Constitution believed that power begins with the citizens, who can exercise that power to make decisions that affect their own and other Americans' lives. The first American document designed for self-governing, the Mayflower Compact, was signed on 21 November 1620.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Separation of powers | Checks and balances |
| Republican and limited form of government | Representative through American citizens voting in free and frequent elections |
| Written constitution | Preservation of liberty for each generation of future Americans |
| Free government and free society | Preventing tyranny |
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What You'll Learn
- Decentralised government, keeping power on the local level with each individual American and the states
- The preservation of liberty for each generation of future Americans
- Applying lessons from classical history towards a new governing system devoted to freedom and independence
- The Mayflower Compact, the first American document designed for self-governing
- The Massachusetts Body of Liberties, written by Puritan minister Nathaniel Ward
Decentralised government, keeping power on the local level with each individual American and the states
The Constitution is designed to preserve liberty for each generation of future Americans. It is written to ensure the protection of natural, unchangeable, unalienable rights.
The Constitution is also based on the principle of a free government and free society, entrusted to the hands of the American people. It is designed to prevent tyranny and the concentration of power in one place, which would prevent checks or restraints by the people.
The Constitution outlines separate branches of governing and their powers, including how they are chosen. It is designed to ensure that power is not invested long in the hands of any individual or number of individuals.
Thomas Paine, in his Dissertation on First Principles of Government in 1795, argued that the inconveniences that may be supposed to accompany frequent changes are less to be feared than the danger that arises from long continuance.
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The preservation of liberty for each generation of future Americans
The Constitution is designed to ensure that the government serves the citizenry, rather than controlling them. This is achieved through the principle of separation of powers, which involves checks and balances to prevent tyranny and the concentration of power in one place.
Thomas Paine, in his 1795 *Dissertation on First Principles of Government*, wrote that 'The inconveniences that may be supposed to accompany frequent changes are less to be feared than the danger that arises from long continuance'. This highlights the importance of free and frequent elections, which are a key part of the Constitution's first principles.
The Constitution also enshrines the principle of a free government and free society, which cannot be confiscated by a tyrannical government system. This is achieved through the separation of powers and checks and balances, as well as through the election of representatives.
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Applying lessons from classical history towards a new governing system devoted to freedom and independence
The Constitution also establishes a republican and limited form of government, with power entrusted to the hands of the American people through free and frequent elections. This principle is intended to prevent the investment of extraordinary power in any individual, as well as the long-term concentration of power in the hands of a few.
The first principles of the American Constitution reflect a desire to create a free government and society, free from the control of a tyrannical government system. This is achieved through the separation of powers, with each branch of government having its own distinct role and powers, as outlined in Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution.
The principles also emphasise the importance of a written Constitution, which serves as the supreme law of the land. This document ensures that the rights and freedoms of Americans are protected and that the government operates within defined limits. By learning from classical history, the American Constitution aims to establish a governing system that promotes freedom and independence, safeguarding against the abuses of power that have occurred in the past.
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The Mayflower Compact, the first American document designed for self-governing
The Mayflower Compact was the first American document designed for self-governing. Signed in 1620 by the 41 men on the Mayflower, it established a rudimentary form of democratic government, based on the principle of consent. The Compact set out the rules for governing the new colony, including the election of a governor, the creation of laws, and the resolution of disputes. It was a significant step towards the establishment of a free and democratic society in America, a principle that would later be enshrined in the US Constitution.
The Mayflower Compact was also an important precursor to the idea of separation of powers. By establishing a system of self-governance, separate from the authority of the English Crown, the Compact laid the groundwork for the later development of a system of checks and balances. This principle, later formalised in the US Constitution, was designed to prevent the concentration of power in a single individual or entity, thus safeguarding against tyranny and ensuring the protection of natural, unchangeable, and unalienable rights.
The Compact also reflected the principle of a limited and republican form of government. The men who signed the Compact were establishing a representative system, in which power was derived from the consent of the governed. This was a departure from the absolute monarchy of England at the time and set a precedent for a government that was accountable to its citizens.
Additionally, the Mayflower Compact demonstrated a commitment to the idea of a written constitution. While the Compact itself was not a full constitution, it laid out the basic framework for a system of laws and governance. This idea of a written constitution, as the supreme law of the land, would later be central to the US Constitution, ensuring that the principles of liberty and limited government were enshrined in a document that could not be easily changed or ignored.
Finally, the Mayflower Compact represented a step towards the preservation of liberty. By establishing a system of self-governance and consent, the Compact recognised the importance of individual freedom and the right to participate in one's own governance. This principle, which would later be central to the American Revolution and the US Constitution, was a rejection of the idea of absolute monarchy and a assertion of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a free society.
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The Massachusetts Body of Liberties, written by Puritan minister Nathaniel Ward
The Body of Liberties begins by establishing the exclusive right of the General Court to legislate and dictate the "Countenance of Authority". This reflects the first principle of the American Constitution, which is the principle of a written constitution. This principle holds that the constitution is the supreme law of the land and is designed to preserve liberty for future generations of Americans.
The Body of Liberties also reflects the principle of free government and free society. This principle states that the government should be entrusted to the hands of the American people and never confiscated by a tyrannical government system. The Massachusetts Body of Liberties was created to ensure that the people of Massachusetts had a say in how they were governed and that their liberties were protected.
Additionally, the Body of Liberties recognised boards of selectmen for the first time. This can be seen as reflecting the principle of separation of powers, which is another important first principle of the American Constitution. This principle involves maintaining a separation of powers and having checks and balances in place to prevent the development of tyranny and the concentration of power in one place.
Finally, the Body of Liberties can also be seen as reflecting the principle of republican and limited form of government. This principle states that the government should be representative of the people through free and frequent elections. By establishing a legal code that recognised the rights and liberties of the people of Massachusetts, the Body of Liberties helped to ensure that the government was accountable to the people and that power was not concentrated in the hands of a few.
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Frequently asked questions
The principle of decentralised government is about keeping power on the local level with each individual American and the states.
This principle is about applying lessons from classical history toward a new governing system devoted to freedom and independence.
This principle is about preserving liberty for each generation of future Americans.
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, designed for the preservation of liberty for each generation of future Americans since its ratification.
The Mayflower Compact was the first American document designed for self-governing. It was signed on 21 November 1620 aboard the Mayflower ship at Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
