Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of a country is the supreme law that governs it. The United States Constitution, which came into force in 1789, superseded the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and has been amended 27 times since. The US Constitution outlines the framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. On the other hand, the Declaration of Independence is a founding document of the United States that was adopted on July 4, 1776. It explains the reasons behind the Thirteen Colonies' decision to sever political ties with Great Britain and establish themselves as independent sovereign states. Unlike the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it holds significant symbolic value and influence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Declaration of Independence | July 4, 1776 |
| Date of Constitution | Signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788 |
| Declaration of Independence | The 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain |
| It is not legally binding | |
| Constitution | The supreme law of the United States of America |
| Superseded the Articles of Confederation | |
| Includes seven articles | |
| Has been amended 27 times | |
| First 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence: a founding document
The Declaration of Independence is one of the United States' founding documents, expressing the ideals on which the nation was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. Drafted in 1776, it is a list of grievances against the King of England intended to justify the separation of the thirteen North American colonies from British rule. It is a powerful statement of the principles on which the US government and identity are based, including the promise of equality and liberty. Unlike other founding documents, it is not legally binding, but it has served as an inspiration for democratic movements worldwide.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, by John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and most other members of the Second Continental Congress, state by state. It was published on the night of July 4, 1776, by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap, who produced about 200 copies, known as the Dunlap Broadsides. At least 27 of these are known to survive. The official, final copy is now kept in the National Archives, and it has been preserved under exacting archival conditions due to its historical significance.
The Declaration has been a source of inspiration for many Americans, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who referenced it in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. It has also influenced other movements advocating for equal rights, such as women's suffrage at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was written and signed in 1787 and came into effect in March 1789. It established a republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and is the supreme law of the land. It was the result of months of passionate deliberation among the delegates, including James Madison, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution." The Constitution has been amended only seventeen times since 1791 and is the world's oldest national constitution.
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The American Revolution and the Continental Congress
The American Revolution was sparked by shots fired by British soldiers in the streets of Boston in 1770, an event known as the Boston Massacre. In response to the violence and new taxes imposed by the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act, colonists protested "taxation without representation" by dumping 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in December 1773, an event known as the Boston Tea Party. The Stamp Act of 1765, the first direct internal tax imposed on colonists by the British Parliament, also inspired resistance and coordinated colonial response.
The Continental Congress was the governing body through which the American colonial governments coordinated their resistance to British rule during the first two years of the American Revolution. The idea for the Continental Congress first arose in 1754 at the start of the French and Indian War, initially known as the Albany Congress. The Congress met in Albany, New York, and included representatives from seven of the thirteen colonies, including Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, who proposed that the colonies join in a confederation. The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in 1774 in response to escalating tensions between the colonies and Britain, which led to the passage of the Intolerable Acts. The First Continental Congress included delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies, who participated in the Revolutionary War.
The Second Continental Congress convened in 1775, shortly after hostilities broke out in Massachusetts. The Second Continental Congress served as the provisional government of the U.S. during most of the Revolutionary War. They sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, established the Continental Army, and elected George Washington as its commander. The Congress also adopted the Lee Resolution for Independence on July 2, 1776, and two days later, approved the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the former colonies as independent sovereign states.
The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It includes a promise of equality and liberty for all men. The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, and the Bill of Rights outlines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government.
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The Constitution: a supreme law
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land. It defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and is the world's shortest and oldest national constitution. Written in 1787 and in effect since March 1789, it established a republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The Constitution was the result of months of passionate, thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, with many making important contributions. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution", was a driving force behind the convention, and his ideas made their way into the final document.
The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Constitution did not go into effect immediately after being signed by the delegates; it needed to be approved by the people through a ratification process. Article VII of the Constitution established that ratification by the conventions of nine states would be sufficient for its establishment. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, became part of it on December 15, 1791. These amendments guarantee rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to a trial by jury. The Constitution has been amended only seventeen times since 1791 and has lasted longer than any other written form of government.
The Constitution fulfilled the promise of the Declaration of Independence, which expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, was a list of grievances against the King of England intended to justify this separation. It is not legally binding but has served as a powerful inspiration for people around the world fighting for freedom and equality.
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The Bill of Rights and amendments
The US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. These documents are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom.
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution. It defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. The Bill of Rights became law on December 15, 1791, when ten amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.
The First Congress of the United States initially proposed 12 amendments on September 25, 1789. Ten of these amendments were ratified in 1791, forming the Bill of Rights. Article 2 was ratified in 1992 as the 27th Amendment, and Article 1 was never ratified.
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because the Constitution lacked limits on government power. Federalists advocated for a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists wanted power to remain with state and local governments and favoured a bill of rights to safeguard individual liberty. James Madison wrote the amendments as a solution to limit government power and protect individual liberties through the Constitution.
The Amendments
The first ten amendments to the Constitution safeguard freedoms like speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, while ensuring protections such as due process and trial by jury.
The First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing a religion or abridging freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. The Third Amendment states that no soldier shall be quartered in a home without the owner's consent. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring warrants to be supported by probable cause. The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to a grand jury and protects against double jeopardy and self-incrimination. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a fair trial. The Seventh Amendment guarantees rights in civil cases. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. The Ninth Amendment states that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people. The Tenth Amendment states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
Later Amendments
The Bill of Rights was followed by several other amendments to the US Constitution, including the abolition of slavery, civil rights, black suffrage, and women's suffrage.
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The Declaration's influence and legacy
The Declaration of Independence is a powerful statement of the colonies' desire for freedom. It expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It is not legally binding, but it has had a profound influence on the extension of American political and social democracy.
The Declaration's proclamation that "all men are created equal" and have an "unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" has been particularly influential. These words have inspired people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. For example, during the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. invoked the Declaration, saying it promised that "all men—yes, black men as well as white men—would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, which sought to gain greater rights for women, also used the Declaration as a guide.
The Declaration has also had a significant influence on the development of American law and government. In the years following its signing, many of the 13 states drafted constitutions that included declarations of rights, listing the same natural rights embraced in the Declaration. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, in particular, influenced Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence, and later provided the foundation for the Bill of Rights.
The Declaration is considered one of the founding documents of the United States, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Declaration of Independence is a document that explains why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule. It was formally adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress.
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution outlines the frame of the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, whereas the Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which the American government and identity are based, while the Constitution outlines the structure and powers of the federal government.
The Declaration of Independence was created to justify the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain and to confirm an official alliance with the Government of France. The Constitution was created to replace the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the young nation's needs.
Thomas Jefferson primarily wrote the Declaration of Independence, with input from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. The Constitution was drafted by delegates chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
