The United States Constitution
Carrie Thomsen
HIS/110 - US HISTORY TO 1865
Due: 07/06/2015
Dr. Timothy Hayburn
The United States Constitution
While the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, it was not America’s first attempt at defining the national structure of government. In fact, not even the Constitution was free from ridicule or fault. The United States Constitution was drafted to resolve flaws in both the Articles of Confederation and in the Declaration of Independence. The Bill of Rights is ten amendments made to the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution each had their own weaknesses. Each tried to address the problems of its predecessor.
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 was the philosophy and ideals of individual liberty. In the Declaration, Jefferson wrote a list of grievances against the King and declared The Second Continental Congress would represent the thirteen colonies freedom from his rule. The Declaration states that the citizens are entitled to certain inalienable rights including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also declares the individual states claim the power to levy war, make peace, form alliances, and conduct trade. In the conclusion of the Declaration, the new nation is named The United States of America. The conclusion also establishes the authority of the Second Continental Congress over issues of international affairs, war, peace, and trade. (The Charters of Freedom, A New World is at Hand. n.d.). This is where the inconsistency lies between who had the greater power, the individual states or the national government? Another problem with the Declaration was that it did not grant Congress the power to tax the states. Finding a way to pay for the Revolutionary War seemed problematic. While the Declaration of Independence is a cherished symbol...