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Declaration of Independence

In 1776, America’s Founders gathered in Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence, which dissolved the political ties that had bound the American people to Great Britain.  A new nation was thus born, free and independent, the United States of America.  Eleven years later, in 1787, after American patriots had won our independence on the battlefield, many of the men who had met earlier in Philadelphia, plus others, met there again to draft a plan for governing the new nation, the Constitution of the United States.  In 1789, after the plan had been ratified, the new government was established. Together, the Declaration and Constitution are American’s founding documents.

As amended over the years, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, the nation’s fundamental law.  But the broad language of the Constitution is illuminated by the principles set forth in the Declaration.  To better understand and appreciate the form of government we have, therefore, it is important to look first to the Declaration, where the Founders outlined their moral vision and the government it implied.  

U.S. Constitution Preamble  

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America, 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.

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

…We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

First Amendment - 1791

Protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government.

Second Amendment - 1791

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Third Amendment - 1791

Restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes.

Fourth Amendment - 1791

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause.

Fifth Amendment - 1791

Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Sixth Amendment - 1791

Protects the right to a speedy public trial by jury, to notification of criminal accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel.

Seventh Amendment – 1791

Provides for the right to a jury trial in civil lawsuits.

Eighth Amendment - 1791

Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.

Nineth Amendment - 1791

States that rights not enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment - 1791

States that the federal government possesses only those powers delegated, or enumerated, to it through the Constitution, and that all other powers are reserved to the States, or to the people.

Eleventh Amendment - 1795

Makes states immune from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders; lays the foundation for state sovereign immunity.

Twelfth Amendment - 1804

Revises presidential election procedures by having the president and vice president elected together as opposed to the vice president being the runner up in the presidential election.

Thirteenth Amendment - 1865

Abolishes slavery, and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

Fourteenth Amendment - 1868

Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post–Civil War issues.

Fifteen Amendment - 1870

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.

Sixteenth Amendment - 1913

Permits Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the various states or basing it on the United States Census.

Seventeenth Amendment - 1913

Establishes the direct election of United States senators by popular vote.

Eighteenth Amendment - 1919

Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States

(Repealed December 5, 1933, via the 21st Amendment)

Nineteenth Amendment - 1920

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex.

Twentieth Amendment - 1933

Changes the dates on which the terms of the president and vice president, and of members of Congress, begin and end, to January 20 and January 3 respectively. States that if the president-elect dies before taking office, the vice president–elect is to be inaugurated as President.

Twenty First Amendment - 1933

Repeals the 18th Amendment and makes it a federal offense to transport or import intoxicating liquors into U.S. states and territories where such is prohibited by law.

Twenty Second Amendment - 1951

Limits to two the number of terms a president of the United States may serve.

Twenty Third Amendment - 1961

Grants the District of Columbia electors in the Electoral College.

Twenty Fourth Amendment - 1964

Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of a poll tax or any other tax.

Twenty Fifth Amendment - 1967

Addresses succession to the presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president and responding to presidential disabilities.

Twenty-Six Amendment - 1971

Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens, 18 years of age or older, to vote on account of age.

Twenty Seventh Amendment - 1992

Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives.

Synopsis of each ratified amendment to the Constitution of the United States