The USA: Becoming A Nation: 1/the Declaration of Independence
The USA: Becoming A Nation: 1/the Declaration of Independence
The USA: Becoming A Nation: 1/the Declaration of Independence
: Becoming a Nation
1/The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States, was approved by the Continental
Congress on July 4, 1776, and announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. It
explained why the Congress on July 2 “unanimously” (by the votes of 12 colonies, with New York abstaining) had
resolved that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.”
This document can be considered as the first U.S. constitution, which served as a bridge between the initial
government of the Revolutionary period and the new government provided under the U.S. Constitution of 1787
The document gave the Congress power to regulate foreign affairs, war, and the postal service and to appoint
military officers, control Indian affairs, borrow money etc.
The document set up a government of a one-house body (Congress), where each state (13) had a vote. To
collectively make a decision, 9 out of 13 representatives had to agree (2/3 majority) which was oftentimes very
challenging
The Articles were very limited ; they gave the Congress no power to enforce its requests to the states for money or
troops, and by the end of 1786 governmental effectiveness had broken down
The articles created a weak central government, which was understandable given the American’s fear of tyrannical
givernments (Britain)
The Confederation provided the new nation with instructive experience in self-government under a written
document. In revealing their own weaknesses, the Articles paved the way for the Constitutional Convention of 1787
and the present form of U.S. government.
With concerns over the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention assembled in
Philadelphia in May of 1787 to draft a new constitution
The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation’s challenges
The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that
reminded them of the one they had just overthrown
Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the United States Constitution is the world's longest
surviving written charter of government
The oldest written national constitution in use, the Constitution defines the principal organs of government and their
jurisdictions and the basic rights of citizens
Its first three words – “We The People” – affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.
The Founding Fathers knew that they did not want to create a government based on strong central power
(monarchy), but that it needed to be a strong and fair government that did not abuse its power
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The government had 3 branches, each with its own powers and a system of checks-and-balances (no branch can
become too powerful, because they other two branches would ‘keep them in check’)
Responsible for enforcing the law+ appoints gov officials+ commands the army
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, adopted as a single unit in 1791. It spells out
the rights of the people of the United States in relation to their government
The Bill of Rights limits the ability of the government to intrude upon certain individual liberties, guaranteeing
freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion to the people of the United States
Since the adoption of the Bill of Rights, 17 additional amendments have been added to the Constitution, expanding
individual rights and freedoms.
Safeguarded indivdual rights : upheld in the constitution and expanded later through amendments
Put the ideals of the enlightenment to action and set the nation for what’s to come (westward expansion, industrial
revolution, slavery and emancipation, imperialism)
The fight for liberty led some Americans to emancipate their slaves, and most of the new northern states soon
passed gradual emancipation laws. This also occurred in the Upper South, but in the Lower South, some masters
revoked their offers of freedom for service, and other freedmen were forced back into bondage.
The Revolution’s rhetoric of equality created a “revolutionary generation” of slaves and free blacks that would
eventually encourage the antislavery movement.