Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution is the oldest federal constitution still in use today. It was drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788, serving as the basis for the US government for over two centuries. The Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson, has also proven to be an influential statement on human rights, particularly its second 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. This declaration has been globally impactful, influencing the French Revolution and the Russian Empire, and has been described by historian Joseph Ellis as containing the most potent and consequential words in American history. The phrase when in the course of human events, which opens the Declaration of Independence, has become particularly well-known.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 4, 1776 |
| Author | Thomas Jefferson |
| Type of Document | Declaration of Independence |
| Addressed To | The Representatives of the Slave Population of the United States of America |
| Key Message | The right of the people to dissolve political bands with another country and to assume a separate and equal station among the powers of the earth |
| Notable Sections | Section 2, which outlines self-evident truths and unalienable rights |
| Global Impact | Influenced the French Revolution and the Russian Empire, and inspired declarations of rights for workers, farmers, and women |
| Human Rights | "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." |
| Constitutional Impact | Served as the basis for the US government for two centuries and influenced other countries' constitutions |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence
The grievances against King George III included the following: taking away the colonies' Charters, abolishing their valuable Laws, altering the Forms of their Governments, suspending their Legislatures, declaring himself invested with power to legislate for the colonies, waging War against the colonists, plundering their seas, ravaging their Coasts, burning their towns, destroying the lives of their people, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, forcing captured Colonists to bear Arms against their Country, quartering large bodies of armed troops among the Colonists, protecting these troops from punishment for any Murders committed against the inhabitants of the Colonies, and cutting off the Colonies' Trade with all parts of the world.
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The French Revolution
One key factor was the rise of the bourgeoisie, a class of wealthy commoners that included merchants, manufacturers, and professionals. This group had gained significant financial power but was excluded from political power and positions of honour. They aspired to political influence and resented the monarchy's failure to adapt to changing societal pressures. The monarchy was also facing a legitimacy crisis, as it was no longer seen as divinely ordained, and its attempts to increase taxes on the poor further fuelled discontent.
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The Russian Empire
Following the defeat of Napoleon, Alexander I was willing to discuss constitutional reforms, and though a few were introduced, no major changes were attempted. Alexander granted Poland a constitution, which alarmed reactionary factions in Poland and in Russia. In 1813, Russia gained territory in the Baky area of the Caucasus at the expense of Persia. By the early nineteenth century, the empire was also firmly established in Alaska, which was later sold to the United States in 1867.
Alexander I was succeeded by his younger brother, Nicholas I, in 1825. Nicholas was confronted with an uprising at the onset of his reign, led by a group of officers commanding about 3,000 men who refused to swear allegiance to him, instead proclaiming their loyalty to the idea of a Russian constitution. These rebels, called Decembrists, were easily overcome by Nicholas, and those who survived were arrested and exiled to Siberia.
In the late 1870s, Russia and the Ottoman Empire clashed in the Balkans, in what became known as the Russo-Turkish War. This war was popular among the Russian people, who supported the independence of their fellow Orthodox Slavs, the Serbs and Bulgarians. The Russian Empire continued to expand, making gains in Siberia, the Caucasus, and at the expense of China.
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The US Constitution
The United States Constitution is the oldest federal constitution in use today. It has served as the basis of the US government for over two centuries, with its principles being adopted by many other countries. The US Constitution was the result of a convention of delegates from different states, excluding Rhode Island, that met in Philadelphia in May 1787. George Washington presided over the convention, which lasted from May to September.
The Constitution was then submitted to the existing states for ratification, with a provision that it would become effective when ratified by nine states. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the document, on June 21, 1788, and the Constitution came into effect in 1789. The states ratified the Constitution in the following order: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
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John Brown's insurrection
John Brown was an American abolitionist in the decades preceding the Civil War. He was an evangelical Christian with strong religious convictions, believing himself to be "an instrument of God", raised to strike the "death blow" to slavery in the United States, a "sacred obligation". He was the leading exponent of violence in the American abolitionist movement, believing it necessary to end slavery after decades of peaceful efforts had failed.
Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859, was an effort to initiate a slave revolt in the Southern states by taking over the United States arsenal. It has been called the "dress rehearsal" for the American Civil War. Brown's party of 22 was defeated by a company of U.S. Marines, led by First Lieutenant Israel Greene. Ten raiders were killed during the raid, seven were tried and executed afterward, and five escaped.
Brown was tried with his surviving men on charges of murder, "conspiracy to foment a slave insurrection", and treason. After a week-long trial, the jury found him guilty on all three counts, and he was hanged in 1859. To many Southerners, Brown was the embodiment of their fears: a white man willing to die to end slavery. To many Northerners, however, he was a prophet of righteousness, bringing down the sword of justice on the immoral institution of slavery and the Southern master class.
In the years since, some historians have asked if John Brown was America's first domestic terrorist. At the time of his bicentennial in 2000, domestic terrorism was a growing problem in the United States, and some modern terrorists have compared themselves to Brown. However, others have argued that there is no complete definition of terrorism, and that soldiers in warfare, for example, are not considered terrorists despite employing fear as a tactic.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase "When in the course of human events" is referring to the United States Declaration of Independence.
The phrase was written by Thomas Jefferson.
The full sentence is: "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
The "When in the course of human events" phrase is significant because it is the opening sentence of the United States Declaration of Independence, which has been described as "one of the best-known sentences in the English language." The Declaration of Independence has also been influential globally, particularly its assertion that "all men are created equal."
