Jonah Patel
The Declaration of Independence, formally titled The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, is the founding document of the United States. It was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, who was part of a five-person committee tasked with drafting the document. The Declaration of Independence has been regarded as one of the most famous documents in history, influencing human rights and global politics. The Constitution, written in 1787, is the oldest federal constitution in existence and has served as the basis for the US government for over two centuries. It is a powerful vision of freedom and governance by the people. Together, the Declaration and the Constitution are foundational texts that have shaped the trajectory of the United States and influenced the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | June 1776 |
| Date adopted | July 4, 1776 |
| Date first publicly read | July 8, 1776 |
| Location first publicly read | Trenton, New Jersey; Easton, Pennsylvania; and Philadelphia |
| Author | Thomas Jefferson |
| Number of authors considered | 5 |
| Number of authors appointed by the Continental Congress | 5 |
| Number of authors who were members of the Committee of Five | 4 |
| Number of authors who were not members of the Committee of Five | 1 |
| Number of authors who were Founding Fathers | 56 |
| Number of parts | 3 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution | 13 |
| Number of days Jefferson had to write the document | 17 |
| Number of days it took Jefferson to write the first draft | 1-2 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution before it went into effect | 9 |
| Number of days the Constitutional Convention convened for | 126 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776
The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States, was written in 1776. It was drafted by a committee of five, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. The committee was appointed by the Continental Congress on June 10, 1776, and Jefferson, who had 17 days to produce the document, wrote the first draft in a day or two. The Declaration was then carefully revised by the committee and presented to Congress for adoption.
The Declaration of Independence has three parts. The first part, which became the most famous, is the preamble, which includes the famous phrase "all men are created equal." The second part lists the grievances of the King of Great Britain, and the third part declares independence from Britain and the dissolution of all political connections between the British Crown and the newly independent states of America.
The Declaration was unanimously adopted on July 4, 1776, by the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, who convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first public readings of the Declaration occurred simultaneously on July 8, 1776, at noon in Trenton, New Jersey; Easton, Pennsylvania; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signed copy of the Declaration is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and is generally considered the official document.
The Declaration of Independence has had a profound and lasting impact on the world. It has been regarded as one of the most famous and influential documents in history, shaping the trajectory of human rights and governance. The ideas expressed in the Declaration, such as the right to revolution, self-government, and equality, have been a point of departure and a promise that continues to inspire and challenge.
The Written Constitution: Documenting America's Founding Principles
You may want to see also
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence, formally titled "The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America", is the founding document of the United States. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most famous and influential documents in world history.
Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia, was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He wrote the document in a rented room in Philadelphia, where he stayed for about 100 days. Jefferson had 17 days to produce the document and reportedly wrote a draft in a day or two. The Declaration was then carefully revised by a committee, which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, before being presented to Congress for adoption.
The Declaration of Independence consists of three parts. The first part is the preamble, which became the most famous part of the document, although it was largely ignored at the time. The second part lists the grievances against the King of Great Britain, including violations of the constitutional rights of the colonists. The third part declares the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain and the dissolution of all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" of America.
The Declaration of Independence was not just a philosophical tract, but a legal document that served as a guide for the new nation. It established the principles of human rights, liberty, and equality, which have inspired future generations in America and worldwide. The document also ended with a pledge by the signers, committing treason against the British Crown, where they vowed to support the Declaration with their "Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
Thomas Jefferson himself did not initially claim credit for the Declaration of Independence, instead attributing its influence to Locke, Montesquieu, the Scottish Enlightenment, and the struggle for English civil liberties. It was only later in his life that he embraced his status as the "scribe of independence." Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence, along with his contributions to the Virginia Constitution and other writings, solidified his role as a key figure in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.
Understanding the Framers' Intended Audience of the Constitution
You may want to see also
The document was influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights
The United States Declaration of Independence, one of the most famous documents in world history, was written in the latter half of 1776. By this time, the Thirteen Colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain had been at war for over a year.
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by a committee of five: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was the chair of the committee, had 17 days to produce the document. He wrote a draft in a day or two, with a copy of George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights and the draft Virginia Constitution as references.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776. It was one of the earliest documents to emphasise the protection of individual rights. It declared that:
> "all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."
Thomas Jefferson drew upon this document for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. The Virginia Declaration of Rights was also the basis of the Bill of Rights, which was added to the U.S. Constitution 15 years later.
The Declaration of Independence has three parts. The first part, or the preamble, is now the most famous. The second part lists the wrongdoings of the King of Great Britain, and the third part declares independence from Britain and the dissolution of all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" of America.
The Constitution's Democracy: Written or Unwritten?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Declaration of Independence was a statement of human rights
The United States Declaration of Independence, formally titled "The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America", is the founding document of the United States. It was written in 1776, during a time of deteriorating relations between the Thirteen Colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain, which had been at war for over a year.
The Declaration of Independence is considered a statement of human rights, as it asserts the inherent and fundamental rights that all people are entitled to. The document proclaims that "all men are created equal" and possess certain "unalienable Rights", such as "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". It also recognises the right of revolution, stating that it is the duty of the people to overthrow a government that infringes on their natural rights.
The Declaration of Independence was influenced by the political philosophy of the Enlightenment, drawing on the ideas of philosophers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, Francis Hutcheson, and Montesquieu. These thinkers believed in the concept of natural rights, which they argued were endowed by God or derived from the nature of humanity itself. The Declaration also reflected the sentiments widely shared by supporters of the American Revolution, including the belief in equality and liberty for all.
While the Declaration of Independence is viewed as a statement of human rights, it is important to note that it did not legally confer any rights. The liberties mentioned in the Declaration only became legally enforceable when they were later enumerated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Declaration, therefore, served as a foundation for the establishment of a new nation and the protection of individual freedoms within it.
The impact of the Declaration of Independence extended beyond the United States, influencing other nations and movements, such as the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789, and the Decembrist revolt in the Russian Empire. It has been regarded as one of the most famous and influential documents in world history, shaping political and social ideals for generations.
The French Constitution: Written or Unwritten?
You may want to see also
The US Constitution is the world's oldest national constitution
The US Constitution is the oldest federal constitution in existence. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and went into effect in 1789, making it one of the oldest still in place in the world today. The document was drafted by a congress of delegates from different states, who convened in Philadelphia in May 1787, with George Washington presiding over the convention. The Constitution was then submitted to the existing states for ratification, with a provision that it would come into effect when ratified by nine states. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify, on June 21, 1788.
The US Constitution has served as the basis for the US government for over two centuries and has only been seriously endangered once, during the Civil War. Many of its principles have been adopted by other countries.
The US Constitution is considered the world's oldest national constitution, although some sources argue that the UK's uncodified constitution, which includes the Magna Carta from 1215, is older. The UK's constitution is less formal and more fluid, with the most recent overhaul occurring in 1992.
The US Constitution is distinct from the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in July 1776 and is considered one of the most famous and influential documents in history. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by a committee including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. It explained why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British rule and declared that all political connections between the colonies and Great Britain should be dissolved. The Declaration has proven to be a globally impactful statement on human rights.
The Constitution's Birthplace: A Historical Meeting
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787 during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention.
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776.
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was part of a five-person committee.
The US Constitution is the oldest federal constitution in existence. It is the basis of the government and has served as an inspiration for other countries.
