The American Reader: A Brief Guide to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights

By Worth Books

The three most important documents in American history—expanded and explained.

In the centuries since the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, as well as its Bill of the Rights, the liberties set forth within these documents have faced many challenges, including war, unrest, political debate, and legal disputes. Such trials persist today, but the initial strength of our founding papers—shining as beacons of hope and freedom to America and beyond—continues to stand the test of time.
 
Now, The American Reader provides a brief summary and analysis of these landmark documents: examining constitutional interpretation, specifically originalism vs. living Constitution; exploring the Declaration’s “saving principles,” expressed by Frederick Douglass, one of many influential leaders referenced in this concise guide; and more. Also included are noteworthy facts about the founding fathers, a detailed timeline of events, and other fascinating trivia.
 
At a time when our understanding of individual liberties in America is especially imperative, this essential reference puts our country’s foundational beliefs into much-needed modern perspective.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781497697331

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The American Reader

A Brief Guide to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights

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Introduction

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights are the three most significant and seminal documents in American history.

The Declaration and the Constitution were drafted by the Second Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention that met in the Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1776 and 1787, respectively. The Bill of Rights, namely the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was proposed during one of the early sessions of the US Congress, which met in Federal Hall in New York City in 1789. Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence while James Madison was the primary author of the Bill of Rights. Madison, along with Gouverneur Morris and James Wilson, also helped shape the Constitution.

The foundation of all three documents is the belief that all people have certain basic—or, inalienable—rights and that the government is responsible for protecting them. These rights encompass common law rights—the concept of which originates from English acts and laws like the Magna Carta and the 1689 Bill of Rights—and natural rights—which, the Founding Fathers believed, belong inherently to all by virtue of their humanity; no legitimate government may change or violate them.

Despite the unifying purpose of preserving the rights of the people, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and therefore, the Bill of Rights, each serve different functions. The Declaration was written to justify America’s breaking away from England’s sovereignty, while the Constitution was designed to establish an entirely new government. The Declaration served its purpose—America gained independence from England on July 4, 1776—and has never been revised. On the other hand, the Constitution—which adapts to the needs of the people—has been amended twenty-seven times. The document allows for a functional, flexible, and responsive governing body, empowered to preserve the blessings of liberty for We the People of the United States. The first ten amendments of the Constitution, however, remain unaltered, and speak to the colonists’ fear of an overly centralized government. In this sense, the Constitution and its Bill of Rights complement the Declaration by proving America’s ability to govern its people and defend personal liberties.

These documents are the foundation of our federal republic, and they represent what is best about the US system of government. They are symbols of the liberty that continues to attract people from all over the world to the United States, promoting that all are equal in the eyes of the law.

In the centuries since the creation of our founding documents, the liberties set forth within them have faced many challenges—including war, unrest, political debate, and legal disputes. Those tests persist today, but the initial strength of these documents continues to withstand the test of time, shining as beacons of hope and freedom.

Timeline

February 10, 1763: The Treaty of Paris (also known as the Treaty of 1763) ends the French and Indian War, and France surrenders all of their North American possessions east of the Mississippi to Britain. While the treaty ended the war, the debts incurred and the cost of maintaining order in the acquired territory cause the British government to impose new taxes on the colonies.

March 22, 1765: The Stamp Act is passed by the British Parliament, taxing colonists for printed paper, including legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and even playing cards. The colonists rebel and successfully repeal the Stamp Act the following year.

June 15–July 2, 1767: Parliament passes the Townshend Acts, a series of four acts imposing taxes on lead, glass, paper, paint, and tea.

October 1768: British troops arrive in Boston to enforce the Townshend duties and suppress local radicals. The colonists refuse to accept the presence of the troops, leading to fights in the streets.

March 5, 1770: The Boston Massacre occurs when a local crowd begins harassing a group of British soldiers outside a customs house. The militiamen open fire, killing five civilians.

December 16, 1773: American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians dump 342 chests of East India Company tea—valued at approximately $18,000 at the time—into Boston Harbor.

May–June 1774: The Coercive, or Intolerable Acts, strip Massachusetts of self-government and judicial independence, sparking a boycott of all British goods.

September 5–October 26, 1774: Colonial delegates meet at the First Continental Congress to organize opposition to the Intolerable Acts.

April 19, 1775: The battles of Lexington and Concord are the first engagements between British soldiers and the armed civilian colonists who become known as Minutemen.

December 22, 1775: Parliament passes the Prohibitory Act, which establishes a blockade of US ports and declares American ships to be enemy vessels.

January 9, 1776: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is published anonymously.

July 4, 1776: The Second Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.

February 6, 1778: France recognizes the United States of America as an independent nation.

March 1, 1781: The Articles of Confederation are ratified by all thirteen states.

October 18, 1781: British forces surrender in Yorktown, Virginia.

March 5, 1782: The British Parliament votes to authorize peace negotiations.

September 3, 1783: The Treaty of Paris formally ends the Revolutionary War, recognizes American independence, and establishes US borders.

1786–1787: Continental Army Captain