Documents

Even after years of tension between Great Britain and her North American colonies, separation from British rule was not inevitable. After months of attempted negotiations and the clash between British soldiers and militiamen at Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress voted on July 2, 1776, to formally declare independence. Two days later, on July 4, Congress approved the final language of the Declaration of Independence which listed grievances against King George III and his government. The Declaration began by asserting that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Since ratification by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, the Constitution of the United States has been the “supreme law of the land.” Drafted to remedy the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution was designed to “form a more perfect union,” creating a federal form of government based on separation of powers, checks and balances and limited government derived from “We the people.”

Among the most significant objections to the Constitution was its lack of a bill of rights. To facilitate ratification, promises were made to propose a bill of rights when the first Congress would convene, a promise kept in 1789 when Congress proposed twelve amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, bearing arms, jury trials, speedy and public trials and due process of law as well as protection from unreasonable searches and seizure, excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment. By December 15, 1791, ten of the twelve amendments were ratified and became known as the Bill of Rights.