Declaration Vs Constitution: Understanding The Differences

what

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. The Declaration of Independence, finalised on the 4th of July, 1776, states that the United States is a country independent of England and includes a list of grievances against the King of England. The US Constitution, written during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, formed the federal government and set the laws of the land. The Constitution was the product of long and rancorous debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery. It was designed to limit the power of the government and secure the liberty of citizens.

cycivic

The Declaration of Independence states the US is a country independent of England

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. They are often confused, but there are important differences between the two. The Declaration of Independence, finalised and signed by representatives from the 13 colonies in 1776, states that the United States of America is a country independent of England. It also includes a list of grievances against the King of England. The document was drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the third President of the United States.

The Declaration of Independence is one of the founding documents of the United States. It expresses the ideals on which the nation was founded and outlines the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The preamble to the Declaration 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 signers of the Declaration, including John Hancock, committed treason against the British monarchy, but their signatures were not published until after General George Washington won the battles of Trenton and Princeton, securing the war for independence.

The Constitution, on the other hand, forms the federal government of the United States and sets the laws of the land. It defines the framework of the government and was written during the Constitutional Convention from May 25 to September 17, 1787. James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution," went on to become the fourth President of the United States. The Constitution begins with the words: "We the people of the United States of America," indicating that the government is "of the people, for the people, and by the people."

While the Declaration of Independence has never been amended, the Constitution originally had 12 amendments. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights, which defines the rights of citizens and states in relation to the federal government. Both documents, along with the Bill of Rights, are considered the Charters of Freedom, securing the rights of the American people and forming the foundation of the United States.

cycivic

The Constitution formed the federal government and set laws

The Constitution formed the federal government and set the laws of the land. It is one of the most important documents in American history, expressing the ideals that define "We the People of the United States" and inspiring free people worldwide. The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and sets out the laws of the land. It was written during the Constitutional Convention, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, over a decade after the Declaration of Independence. James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution", went on to become the fourth president of the United States.

The Constitution begins with the words "We the people of the United States of America," indicating that the government was intended to be "of the people, for the people, and by the people." This notion of a government "for the people" was novel at the time of its writing. The Constitution originally included 12 amendments, and the first 10 of these amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, which defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government.

In contrast, the Declaration of Independence, finalised on July 4, 1776, states that the United States is a country independent of England and lists grievances against the King of England. It expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. The Declaration 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." Thomas Jefferson, the principal drafter of the Declaration, went on to serve as the third president of the United States.

While the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are both foundational documents of the United States, they serve different purposes. The Declaration asserts the independence and ideals of the new nation, while the Constitution establishes the federal government and sets out the laws and rights that govern it.

The Constitution Act: 1867's Legacy

You may want to see also

cycivic

The Declaration has no amendments, the Constitution had 12

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. They are often confused with each other, but there are significant differences. The Declaration of Independence, drafted in 1776, states that the United States is a country independent of England and outlines the ideals on which the new nation was founded. It includes a list of grievances against the King of England and is famous for its assertion that "all men are created equal".

The US Constitution, on the other hand, was written eleven years later in 1787 and forms the federal government, setting the laws of the land. It begins with the words "We the people of the United States of America", emphasising that the government is "of the people, for the people, and by the people". This was a novel concept at the time.

While the Declaration of Independence has remained unchanged, the Constitution has undergone a number of amendments. There were originally twelve amendments to the Constitution, and the first ten of these are known as the Bill of Rights, which defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. The fact that the Declaration has no amendments while the Constitution had twelve highlights the different purposes of the two documents. The Declaration was a statement of principles and ideals, while the Constitution is a living document that can be changed and adapted as needed to govern the country.

The two documents were created in different historical contexts. The Declaration of Independence was written during the American Revolution, when the thirteen colonies were seeking to break away from British rule. The Constitution, on the other hand, was created after the Revolutionary War had been won and the United States had established its independence. The founders recognised the need for a stronger central government than what had existed under the Articles of Confederation, but they also wanted to protect the rights of citizens and states, so the Constitution was written to balance these interests.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights, are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom. They are considered the philosophical foundation of the United States and have inspired free people around the world.

cycivic

The Declaration was drafted in 1776, the Constitution in 1787

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. They are often confused with each other, but there are significant differences. The Declaration of Independence was drafted in 1776, and the Constitution was drafted in 1787, over a decade later.

The Declaration of Independence was finalised on 4 July 1776, and it expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded. It also stated the reasons for the separation from Great Britain and included a list of grievances against the King of England. Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the third president of the United States, was the principal drafter of the Declaration. He and the other founders signed the document, pledging to support it with "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor".

The Constitution, on the other hand, was drafted over a decade later, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention. It formed the federal government and set the laws of the land. James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution", later became the fourth president of the United States. The Constitution begins with the words "We the people of the United States of America", indicating that it is "of the people, for the people, and by the people". This idea of a government "for the people" was novel at the time.

The Declaration and the Constitution are both founding documents of the United States, and they were written just 11 years apart. However, only six men—George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson—signed both documents.

cycivic

The Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson, the Constitution by James Madison

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history. The former, written by Thomas Jefferson, expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and its intention to separate from Great Britain. The latter, drafted by James Madison, outlines the framework of the US federal government and sets the laws of the land.

The Declaration of Independence, finalised on 4 July 1776, includes a list of grievances against the King of England and asserts the independence of the United States of America. It 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." Despite the importance of its message, the Declaration had no amendments, and its signers realised they were committing treason against the British Crown.

Thomas Jefferson, the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence, went on to become the third president of the United States. He and the other founders signed the Declaration as a mutual pledge to support it with "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

The Constitution, on the other hand, was written during the Constitutional Convention from 25 May to 17 September 1787. It begins with the words: "We the people of the United States of America." This introduction highlights that the Constitution is "of the people, for the people, and by the people." James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution," later served as the fourth president of the United States.

The Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are often referred to as the Charters of Freedom, securing the rights of the American people and forming the philosophical and governmental foundations of the United States.

Frequently asked questions

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two separate documents. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 and states that the United States of America is a country independent of England, listing grievances against the English king. The Constitution, written in 1787, formed the federal government and set the laws of the land.

Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison, who was the fourth president of the United States, is considered the "Father of the Constitution" due to his ideas being central to the document.

Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence begins with: "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."

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment