Products

About

©2018 StudyMode.com

The Constitution Versus the Declaration of Independence

Topics: United States Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Natural and legal rights Pages: 2 (659 words) Published: January 27, 2013
The Constitution did not fulfill the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence because it gave the government more power than the people. The Declaration of Independence promised that when the government failed the people, that they (the people) could overrule the the government and institute a new one. The Constitution on the other hand takes away rights of the people, and gives the government ultimate power. Although extremely helpful to our society and the way our country is run, the Constitution ultimately strays away from the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

The people do not have the right to overthrow a government or even alter it if necessary according to the constitution. America was built on a smaller group of people overthrowing a larger government. It is the reason why we have so many freedoms today. A Revolution could not have been accomplished if the colonists were unable to rise against the larger Britain. Toward the end of the declaration it states, "such has the sufferance of these colonies; and such now the necessity which constraints them to alter their former systems of government." This is saying that the colonies have suffered under a tyranny before and for the well being of the country, should not establish a powerful government because it may be destructive and take away certain freedoms. It is stating that the more power people have, their is less of a chance for a dictator or tyrannic leadership to occur. Although a very radical idea (to give most power to the people), that was the main point of the declaration. In the constitution, the government is much more powerful than what the writers of the declaration wanted. Even if a powerful government is good for our country, it is still the exact opposite ideal of the declaration.

The Declaration promises citizens unalienable rights, where the Constitution states no such rights. The definition of unaliable rights is those rights that cannot be surrendered,...
Continue Reading

Please join StudyMode to read the full document

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Slavery in the constitution and declaration of independence Essay

    ...It’s All About Your Rep Forming America to a profitable and just nation over time has never been an easy matter to successfully handle. Personal morals and ethics were a big obstacle to deal with when our founding brothers drafted historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. When drafting up the Constitution at the constitutional convention the delegates were faced with many hard-hitting topics. One of these difficult topics that the constitutional convention underwent was slavery. The continental convention handled the issue of slavery by the three-fifths clause with reasons for proportional representation and temporarily resolving an unending dispute helping it be consistent with the underlying values of the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America. The continental convention dealt with the topic of slavery by the Three-Fifths Compromise. The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise that stated that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in terms of both voting and proportional representation. It was called a compromise because it settled the unending arguments over power between the North and South. The north argued that a slave was a form of property, and because they were recognized as property there should not be any representation whatsoever for a slave regardless of how many...

    Read More
    1008 Words 3 Pages
  • Essay about Gettysburg Address Versus Declaration of Independence

    ...Lincoln’s Address Versus Jefferson’s Declaration Two of the most important, and, perhaps the two most important documents in American history are the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. The Declaration of Independence, the document of secession written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, called for the complete independence of the states from the British Empire. The Gettysburg Address was a document on the theory of union that stressed the need for one united country and expressed the importance of doing whatever necessary to complete the task of keeping the states united as one. It was written and delivered by Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at a cemetery dedication for soldiers who had died in the famous Civil War battle there. These two documents of Jefferson and Lincoln’s are different in more ways than they are similar. More specifically, the clear difference between the two in organization and contradiction of arguments that each expresses are what show that the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence were two documents written on completely different ends of the spectrum. Because of this, the two are just as significant to each other as they are individually to the construction and shaping of America and its rich history. The fact that these two documents are so different from one another is what...

    Read More
    1480 Words 4 Pages
  • The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence Essay

    ...The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence University of Phoenix American History 110 The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence Purpose Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was a Document to the King of England declaring their intentions to sever all political ties with England. It was addressed to the supreme Judge of the World Court; basically it was a petition to the world to be recognized as a legitimate government. The Colonist had final had enough of the English King and his oppression, they got together and formed a Continental Congress to come up with a plan. They drafted the Declaration of Independence as the last desperate act of an oppressed people, addressed to the world the colonist requested that the world recognize their sovereign right to govern themselves. U.S. Constitution The U.S. Constitution was the document put forth by the Continental Congress to set into motion the laws of the newly formed country. The basis of all our current laws the Constitution is ideas and ideals of the new country. It set forth the provisions to have a government and how the government should be formed and the restrictions imposed upon it. The newly elected Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and drafted the...

    Read More
    2355 Words 7 Pages
  • The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution Essay

    ...Apolonio E. Muñoz III The Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution LA City College M-Th 7:15 PM 06/18/2009 1) Identify three goals of the Declaration of Independence. Hint: the answer is not just life and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence Primarily was drafted by the founding fathers as a formal declaration to the Colonies as well as the British Monarchy that they were absolving, and becoming Free & Independent States. The Declaration of Independence also outlines the many injustices that the King of Great Britain had been doing such ad cutting off trade to other parts of the world, obstructing the administration of justice, forcing the colonies to quarter the King’s Armies, and imposing taxes on the Colonies without consent. The Declaration of Independence then goes on to state that the Colonies have the full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract Alliances, establish commerce, ad do all that an independent state would do. 2) Read the definition of democracy below and apply it to the Constitution. Then, try to find any undemocratic element in the Constitution. Honestly I don’t see any elements to the Constitution in how it can be undemocratic, since each section is designed to uphold the principles of democracy....

    Read More
    1779 Words 5 Pages
  • The Influences on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution Essay

    ...The Influences on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire influenced the Declaration of Independence and Constitution in many ways; they were also Enlightenment thinkers. First, Montesquieu believed in the separation of powers to avoid tyranny and promote liberty and justice, which was expressed in the Declaration of Independence. The theories he had made were very influential in the making of the Constitution. He wrote a system of check and balances that a government should incorporate so that one branch cannot overrule another. The branches he wrote of are the judicial, executive, and legislative, which to this day, the US still currently employs. His idea about a need for a “separation of powers” was highly critical too. Locke was actually the first to suggest the three branches of government which Thomas Jefferson interpreted in the Bill of Rights. Also, Locke’s idea of a people-run government had a huge influence over the United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and he also thought that it was necessary for a country to thrive and flourish, and without the people, the country would perish and fall. For him, the state of nature was a state of full natural rights so that there had to be a compelling advantage in any social...

    Read More
    451 Words 2 Pages
  • Essay about The Declaration of Independence

    ...Jefferson feels is the function of government? I think Jefferson feels that the rule of government is to be aware of whether it is corrupt or not. Its their duty to throw out or establish a new or better government. 3.What does Jefferson say about women? Is there any way you can determine his views from reading this document? Does he appear to favor the patriarchal system? From my reading, I do not believe he mentions women specifically. I can not really determine his views on women to an extreme. I believe he really favors it, this was written at a time when everyone had like views about it. When he says “ all men are created equal” he basically means all of the above. 4. Find at least one use of parallel structure in the Declaration. What key terms are repeated in identical or equivalent constructions, and to what effect? “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 a government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” Jefferson uses the key term “ it is their” repeatedly. He uses it to the effect of the people, making it known that we have the power to change and make out government better. In this sentence those key terms sound bold, when they are read they almost stand out. 5. Which causes in paragraphs 3 through 29 are the most serious? Are any trivial? Which ones are...

    Read More
    695 Words 3 Pages
  • Declaration of Independence Essay

    ...Harry Walker 10/14/14 Mrs. Torres English III Honors, Period 3 Declaration of Independence A.) 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. In my own words: Sometimes in the course of certain events there comes a time when a certain group feels the need to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another, or in other words split up. We believe that God has entitled us to pursue this course and here are the reasons why we feel...

    Read More
    932 Words 3 Pages
  • Declaration of Independence Essay

    ...Mariela Quesada Written Assignment Business Law Spring 2012 The Declaration of Independence In the past centuries there have been millions of new emerging countries around the world. They all have attained their independence in different ways. Military rebellion, civil strife, and acts of heroism, to name a few, these actions have granted civilizations the right to freedom from oppressing powers. Violent confrontations which led to millions of lives lost in the battle field, acts of heroism by those who believed in a new beginning and lives of hundreds of brave soldiers who fought for their people led the United States triumph to their efforts of independence. The birth of the United States as an independent nation would have a significant impact in the world’s history and cooperates with the growth of democracy. The Declaration of Independence is the US’s most iconic document. One of the best known set of words included in this document say the following: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” However, a vast majority of the people today ignore the reason for which the Founding Fathers wrote, declared and defended the Declaration of Independence. One of the common mistakes is...

    Read More
    1026 Words 3 Pages

Popular Essays

Become a StudyMode Member

Sign Up - It's Free