Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are two of the most important documents in the history of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, marking the colonies' independence from British rule. The US Constitution, on the other hand, was drafted and signed by a group of 38 delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, in 1787, and ratified in 1788. It is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the framework of the federal system of government and the rights and responsibilities of its citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author of the Declaration of Independence | Thomas Jefferson |
| Other contributors to the Declaration of Independence | John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. |
| Year the Declaration of Independence was written | 1776 |
| Year the Declaration of Independence was adopted | 1776 |
| Year the Declaration of Independence was signed | 1776 |
| Location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Author of the preamble of the Declaration of Independence | John Adams |
| Who wrote the Constitution | A group of 38 delegates including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, George Washington, and George Reed |
| Year the Constitution was written | 1787 |
| Year the Constitution was ratified | 1788 |
| Location of the signing of the Constitution | Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787 by a group of delegates
- Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776
- John Adams wrote the preamble to the Declaration of Independence
- The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
- The Declaration of Independence was an official act by 13 colonies declaring independence from British rule
The US Constitution was written and signed in 1787 by a group of delegates
The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, is the founding document of the United States. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was elected chair of the committee. It was formally titled "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America". The Declaration explains why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule. It has become one of the most influential documents in history.
The Constitution, on the other hand, defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. It is a charter of government that was ratified by the states and continues to be the supreme law of the land. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, defining citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government.
The Declaration and the Constitution are connected in spirit but are separate documents. The Declaration is not legally binding, whereas the Constitution is. The Declaration has been used as a guide for interpreting the Constitution, with Lincoln seeing it as a moral guide to correct the Constitution without overthrowing it. The Declaration has also been used as a basis for other important documents, such as the Declaration of Sentiments, drafted by supporters of women's rights in 1848.
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Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776
The American Revolutionary War commenced in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Amidst the growing tensions, the colonies reconvened the Congress on May 10. In 1774, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, known as the Intolerable Acts in the colonies, to punish the colonists for the Gaspee Affair of 1772 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Many colonists considered these acts to be a violation of the British Constitution and a threat to their liberties. In response, the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in September 1774 to coordinate a formal response, including a boycott of British goods and a petition to the king for a repeal of the acts. However, these measures were unsuccessful, as King George III and Lord North were determined to enforce parliamentary supremacy over the Thirteen Colonies.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted unanimously by the Second Continental Congress, who were convened at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence became known as the Founding Fathers of the nation. The Declaration of Independence consists of three parts: a preamble, a list of grievances against the King of Great Britain, and a declaration of independence from Britain and the dissolution of all political connections between the British Crown and the "Free and Independent States" of America.
Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was elected chair of the committee tasked with drafting the document. He completed the document in 17 days, with some sources suggesting he wrote a draft in just one or two days. Jefferson was inspired by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, drafted by George Mason, and the draft Virginia Constitution, which he had written himself. The Virginia Declaration of Rights strongly influenced the first part of the Declaration of Independence and later provided the foundation for the Bill of Rights.
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John Adams wrote the preamble to the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two distinct documents that are fundamental to the history of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, outlined the principles that would shape the identity of the American nation and its government. It also served as a statement of independence from Great Britain, listing the wrongdoings of the King of England to justify this separation.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was authored and ratified in 1787. It established the framework for the Federal Government of the United States and is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was the culmination of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates, including James Madison, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution."
Now, while Thomas Jefferson is widely recognised as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams also played a significant role in its creation. Adams was a strong advocate for American independence and worked closely with Jefferson during the drafting process.
Adams' contribution to the Declaration of Independence is significant because it sets the tone and philosophical foundation for the entire document. His words reflect the Enlightenment-era thinking that influenced the founding fathers' vision for a new nation. By declaring that certain rights are "unalienable," Adams asserted the inherent dignity and freedom that all individuals are entitled to, regardless of their origin or status. This concept of equality and liberty for all became a cornerstone of American democracy and has had a profound impact on the course of history, influencing not only the United States but also democratic movements around the world.
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The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
The Supremacy Clause establishes that the Constitution, the laws of the United States made in pursuance of the Constitution, and all treaties made under the authority of the United States are the supreme law of the land. This means that federal statutes and treaties must be within the parameters of the Constitution and not violate constitutional limits on federal power, such as the Bill of Rights.
The Supremacy Clause also specifies that judges in every state are bound by the Constitution, regardless of any conflicting state laws. This includes all executive and judicial officers, senators, representatives, and members of state legislatures. The Supremacy Clause further establishes the supremacy of treaties over state law, which has been described as an "unquestioned axiom of the founding" of the United States.
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is another important document in the founding of the United States. It expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. Unlike the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it has been a powerful influence on American identity and government.
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The Declaration of Independence was an official act by 13 colonies declaring independence from British rule
The Declaration of Independence was an official act by 13 colonies declaring their independence from British rule. It was written by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, and was unanimously ratified on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, whose delegates represented each of the 13 colonies.
The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It justified the independence of the colonies, citing 27 colonial grievances against the king and asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution.
The 13 colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain had been at war for over a year by the time the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Relations had been deteriorating since 1763, with the North American colonists increasingly at odds with British imperial policies regarding taxation and frontier policy. Protests failed to influence British policies, resulting in the closing of the port of Boston and the declaration of martial law in Massachusetts. The colonial governments responded by sending delegates to a Continental Congress to coordinate a colonial boycott of British goods.
Many colonists believed that Parliament no longer had sovereignty over them, but they remained loyal to King George, hoping he would intercede on their behalf. This notion was dispelled in late 1775 when the king rejected Congress's second petition, issued a Proclamation of Rebellion, and announced he was considering "friendly offers of foreign assistance" to suppress the rebellion. Despite this growing popular support for independence, the Second Continental Congress initially lacked the clear authority to declare it.
The Declaration of Independence was one of many such declarations issued throughout the 13 colonies from April to July 1776. Some were formal written instructions for Congressional delegations, while others were legislative acts that officially ended British rule in individual colonies. The Declaration of Independence was the founding document of the United States, expressing the ideals on which the nation was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It has become one of the most circulated, reprinted, and influential documents in history.
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