Comparing The U.s. Constitution and The Declaration of Independence

Table of Contents

• The Declaration of Independence
• The United States Constitution
• Conclusion

US Constitution vs Declaration of Independence

The United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are kinda like two big deals in American history. They’re both super important, but they have different jobs, ya know? This essay's gonna dive into how they're alike and different, and why they're a big deal in history.

The Declaration of Independence

So, the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. It's when the thirteen American colonies decided to give Britain the boot. This document basically told King George III that they were done with his rule. The Declaration talks about individual rights, like the idea that governments should only exist if people agree to them, and even the right to revolt if things get outta hand.

One thing both documents have in common is their love for individual rights. In the Declaration, it’s all about "all men are created equal" and having rights like Life, Liberty, and chasing Happiness. Similarly, the Constitution’s Bill of Rights lists freedoms like speech and religion.

But hey, here’s where they split ways: The Declaration was mainly about kicking off a revolution. It’s got a fiery vibe that really fired up the colonists to fight for freedom. On the flip side, the Constitution's more about building a stable government framework after independence. It’s less about emotion and more about being practical.

The Declaration is also shorter and straight to the point. It's one document laying out why they wanted independence. Meanwhile, the Constitution is all legal details with articles and amendments explaining how government works.

The United States Constitution

The US Constitution got ratified in 1788 and it's still running strong today as the supreme law in America. It organizes how federal government runs things and balances power between federal and state levels while protecting people's rights.

Like I said before, both documents dig democracy and self-governance. They both stress that government should be based on people’s consent. The Constitution sets up a rep-democracy where folks elect officials who keep each other in check so no one goes overboard with power.

Even though both papers vibe with these ideas, they tackle governance differently. The Constitution gets detailed by dividing powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches each with their own roles—unlike the Declaration focusing on gripes against King George III.

A biggie for the Constitution was forming a strong central government which didn’t happen under those Articles of Confederation—way too weak back then! So yeah—the Constitution wanted balance between authority at center stage while keeping individual freedoms intact—a debate still alive today.

Conclusion

In wrapping this up—The Declaration of Independence & U.S.Constitution form America’s foundation each carrying unique missions & content flavors.They shared gripes against British rule aiming for self-rule; however,U.S.Constitution laid down governance rules plus safeguarding citizens’ rights.To truly get how democracy evolved stateside,and grasp founding principles knowing similarities/differences matter big-time!

References

• Ellis, J.J., (2007). American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic. New York: Knopf.
• Maier, P., (1997). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Vintage Books.
• Miroff, B., Seidelman R., & Swanstrom T., (2009). Debating Democracy: A Reader in American Politics (6th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Norton M.B., et al., (2014). A People & A Nation: A History of The United States (10th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Zinn H., (2005). A People's History Of The United States 1492-Present. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics.