Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution's Preamble, which begins with We the People, is a well-known piece of prose that has poetic qualities. The man behind the Constitution's final form, Gouverneur Morris, had a strong background in poetics, which is reflected in the Preamble's careful use of meter and rhythm. The Preamble's famous opening phrase, We the People, is etched into the national consciousness, despite the fact that the Constitution was not actually written by the people. The Preamble also contains themes and values commonly associated with the Constitution, such as civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity, which are reflected in acrostic poems based on the word constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Civic rights | enshrined |
| Order | justice |
| Nurturing freedom | each life holds value |
| Integrity | unity |
| Treasuring equality | each soul's voice |
| Timeless principles | guiding |
| Outlining rights | that we all shall defend |
| Nurturing hope | that will never end |
| Promote the general | welfare |
| Secure the blessings of | liberty |
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What You'll Learn
Civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity
The Preamble of the United States Constitution is one of the world's most recognisable pieces of prose, with its famous opening line, "We the People". While not a poem itself, the Preamble was written with meter in mind, and its author, Gouverneur Morris, was well-educated in poetics.
An acrostic poem for "CONSTITUTION" expresses values of civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity. Each line of the poem highlights important principles and ideals that the Constitution embodies. For example, the poem begins with "Civic rights enshrined, a beacon of hope", and "Order and justice, guiding us to cope". The poem serves as a creative reminder of the significance of the Constitution in American history.
The themes of civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity are also reflected in the Preamble's text, which speaks of establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for all Americans and their posterity.
The phrase "We the People" is etched deep in the national consciousness, and it is important to note that the Constitution was not written by the people, but by delegates who presumed to speak on their behalf. Nonetheless, the Preamble begins with these words, creating a sense of national unity and the idea that the Constitution is ordained by the authority of the people.
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Ordaining a constitution
The United States Constitution's Preamble, which begins with the famous phrase "We the People," has a poetic quality to it. While not strictly a poem, it was written with meter in mind, and its author, Gouverneur Morris, was well-educated in poetics. The Preamble's language of "ordaining and establishing" a constitution evokes the sacred, with "ordain" having sacerdotal connotations, and "establish" referring to churches.
The Preamble's most 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 defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity," express the ideals and values that underpin the Constitution. These values include civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity, as reflected in an acrostic poem using the word "CONSTITUTION."
The poem, published on Brainly.com, serves as a creative reminder of the Constitution's core functions and values:
> Civic rights enshrined, a beacon of hope,
> Order and justice, guiding us to cope.
> Nurturing freedom, each life holds value,
> Standing strong as our nation's most needed avenue.
> Titans of justice, its guardians bold,
> Integrity and unity, stories of old.
> Treasuring equality, for each soul's voice,
> Uniting in purpose, together we rejoice.
> Timeless principles, guiding our way,
> Illuminating paths for each new day.
> Outlining rights that we all shall defend,
> Nurturing hope that will never end.
The poem's lines highlight important principles and ideals, such as civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity, that are embodied in the Constitution. The Preamble's language, with its careful meter and use of alliteration, and the poem's creative expression of the Constitution's values, both contribute to a sense of the Constitution's significance and its enduring impact on American life.
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Establishing a national religion
The United States Constitution, in its first full draft, 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." These words have been described as having a poetic quality and are considered to be one of the world's most recognisable bits of prose.
The phrase "We the People" is etched deep in the national consciousness. However, it is important to note that the Constitution was not written by "the people". The people took no part in its drafting and were not even represented at the Philadelphia Convention, which had been called by the Congress, a body in which the states were represented. Nonetheless, the drafters of the Constitution presumed to speak in the voice of "the people".
The use of the word "ordain" in the Constitution is interesting as it carries sacerdotal connotations; priests and rabbis enter into their sacred functions by way of ordination. To "ordain" a Constitution or a government is more than simply to set it up. On the other hand, the word "establish" referred to churches—more than half of the thirteen states had established churches, official links between God and the State supported by tax funds. Thus, the Constitution can be interpreted as creating a national religion, with the authority of the People at its centre.
An acrostic poem for 'CONSTITUTION' expresses values of civic rights, justice, freedom, and unity. Each line highlights important principles and ideals that the Constitution embodies, serving as a creative reminder of the significance of the Constitution in American history. For example, the line "Civic rights enshrined, a beacon of hope" illustrates the core function of the Constitution in protecting civic rights. Similarly, "Integrity and unity, stories of old" emphasises the unifying role of the Constitution in fostering integrity and unity among the people.
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The role of the people
The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in the country's history, and its creation is often discussed in poetic terms. The Preamble, which begins with the famous phrase "We the People," is particularly well-known and has a prose style that has been compared to poetry. The people referred to in this phrase are the citizens of the United States, and these words are considered to be deeply etched in the national consciousness.
However, it is important to note that the Constitution was not actually written by the general populace. The "people" did not participate in drafting the document and were not even represented at the Philadelphia Convention, where it was written. Instead, the convention was called and attended by representatives of the states, specifically Congress. The drafters of the Constitution, therefore, spoke on behalf of the people, claiming to represent their voices and interests.
Despite this, the role of the people in the Constitution is significant. The document was created to establish a nation for and by the people, with the understanding that the people would approve or disapprove of it. The people were the intended beneficiaries and guardians of the rights and principles outlined in the Constitution. The phrase "We the People" thus carries a sense of ownership and responsibility, implying that the people have the power to shape their government and country.
In addition to the Preamble, the Constitution's poetic qualities can be seen in its structure and language. For example, the use of meter and rhythm in the Preamble has been noted, with certain words and phrases carrying symbolic weight. The Constitution's language is also full of references to ideals such as justice, freedom, unity, civic rights, and equality, which are core values that the people of the United States hold dear.
Overall, while the people may not have had a direct hand in writing the Constitution, their role as the intended beneficiaries and guardians of the nation it established is crucial. The words "We the People" serve as a reminder of the Constitution's democratic ideals and the role of citizens in upholding them. The people are the foundation upon which the Constitution is built, and their rights, freedoms, and welfare are at the heart of the document.
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The metric nature of the preamble
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, which begins with the famous words "We the People", is a well-known piece of prose that has been compared to poetry. The man responsible for its final form, Gouverneur Morris, had a strong background in poetics, having studied Latin and mathematics at King's College (now Columbia University). Morris was well-versed in the works of Roman poets such as Virgil and Ovid, and his writings occasionally referenced Ovid. He also had a good understanding of English prosody through his studies of Shakespeare, and even dabbled in writing verse himself.
While the Preamble is not technically blank verse, it was undoubtedly crafted with meter in mind. Its metric nature is particularly striking, and it contains several instances of metrical feet, such as the secundus paeon ("Tranquility") and the molossus. Morris also inserted other cultural signals into the document, further enriching its poetic qualities.
The Preamble's first four lines, ending with "Tranquility", form a couplet with nearly identical metrical schemes. The word "Tranquility" itself forms a metrical foot called a secundus paeon, consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by two stressed syllables (—. . .). This couplet also contains an instance of alliteration with the words "pro" and "provide".
The subsequent lines continue to display a careful attention to meter and rhythm. For example, the lines "provide for the common defence, . – . . – . . –" and "promote the general Welfare, . – . – . . –." have the same number of syllables (eight) and a similar metrical scheme. Alliteration is also employed in the lines "and secure the Blessings of Liberty . . – . – . . – . to ourselves and our Posterity, . . – . – . –", which feature alliteration with the letters "s" and "bl".
The Preamble to the Constitution, with its careful attention to meter, rhythm, and cultural signals, showcases Morris's poetic sensibilities and elevates what could have been a simple legal document into something approaching poetry.
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Frequently asked questions
The poem describes the constitution as a "beacon of hope", outlining rights that "we the people" shall defend.
The poem references themes commonly associated with the Constitution, reflecting values from its Preamble and historical interpretations of its significance.
Phrases such as "We the People", "ordain and establish", and "insure domestic tranquility" are some of the most recognisable bits of prose in the poem.
The poem's Preamble is written with meter in mind and contains instances of alliteration and near-rhymes.
