The document summarizes the events from May 1776 to July 1776 that led to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. It describes how the Continental Congress resolved that the colonies should establish independent governments and be "free and independent states". A committee was appointed to draft the declaration, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The draft was presented on June 28th and finalized and signed on July 4th, declaring the 13 colonies independent from British rule.
This document contains a speech by Representative Rarick arguing that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution is unconstitutional and should be repealed. He makes several claims:
1) The 14th Amendment was never properly ratified as required by Article V of the Constitution, as several southern states were excluded from deliberation and their legislatures replaced after the Civil War.
2) The intended purpose of the 14th Amendment was only to free slaves, not to be applied more broadly.
3) Unelected federal judges have inappropriately expanded the 14th Amendment to legislate their own policy preferences, acting as "secessionists" undermining the Constitution.
4) He includes documents from the Louisiana
The document summarizes key sections of Article I of the US Constitution, which establishes the legislative branch. It describes how Congress is composed of the House of Representatives and Senate. The House is elected every two years by the people and representation is based on population. The Senate has two members from each state who are elected by the state legislature to six-year terms, with one-third being elected every two years. Article I also establishes Congress's powers, including taxation, borrowing, commerce, and currency regulation.
This document summarizes Andrew Jackson's veto of the 1833 Land Bill. It provides background on the early history of public land ownership in the United States, including states initially claiming western lands and debates around ceding those lands to the federal government. Jackson argues the 1833 bill is not a permanent solution and does not adequately address continued disputes over public lands. He outlines objections to the bill before Congress in vetoing it.
Constitutional Law Your Ironclad Guarantee of FreedomChuck Thompson
This document discusses various aspects of constitutional law, including:
- The supremacy of the U.S. Constitution over other laws according to Article VI of the Constitution.
- Protections provided by the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech and protection from unreasonable searches.
- The principle that unconstitutional statutes are void and unenforceable from the date of enactment based on the 1803 Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court decision.
- Citations from American Jurisprudence discussing the interpretation and application of the Constitution, including the principle that citizens are not bound to obey unconstitutional laws.
After the Revolutionary War, there was disagreement over how to govern the new nation. Some wanted more state power while others wanted a stronger national government. This led to the Articles of Confederation, but it gave most power to the states. In 1787, representatives met at the Constitutional Convention and drafted a new Constitution with a stronger federal government. However, there was still concern over individual liberties, so James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights which enumerated specific freedoms and limits on government power. It was ratified in 1791 as the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.
What did you expect? It's a file!
"On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains to avoid worse pains."
John Adams appointed Marbury as a justice of the peace for Washington D.C. However, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison refused to deliver Marbury's commission. This led to the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, where the Supreme Court established the principle of judicial review. The Court declared that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, marking the first time it struck down a law for being unconstitutional. This established the Supreme Court's ability to review laws and executive actions and determine their constitutionality under the U.S. Constitution.
The Hartford Convention met in 1814 to discuss New England's grievances with the War of 1812 and propose constitutional amendments, including apportioning representation and taxes based on free population only, requiring two-thirds congressional approval for embargoes or interdicting trade, and limiting eligibility for the presidency. The convention recommended further action if their demands were not met.
This document contains a speech by Representative Rarick arguing that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution is unconstitutional and should be repealed. He makes several claims:
1) The 14th Amendment was never properly ratified as required by Article V of the Constitution, as several southern states were excluded from deliberation and their legislatures replaced after the Civil War.
2) The intended purpose of the 14th Amendment was only to free slaves, not to be applied more broadly.
3) Unelected federal judges have inappropriately expanded the 14th Amendment to legislate their own policy preferences, acting as "secessionists" undermining the Constitution.
4) He includes documents from the Louisiana
The document summarizes key sections of Article I of the US Constitution, which establishes the legislative branch. It describes how Congress is composed of the House of Representatives and Senate. The House is elected every two years by the people and representation is based on population. The Senate has two members from each state who are elected by the state legislature to six-year terms, with one-third being elected every two years. Article I also establishes Congress's powers, including taxation, borrowing, commerce, and currency regulation.
This document summarizes Andrew Jackson's veto of the 1833 Land Bill. It provides background on the early history of public land ownership in the United States, including states initially claiming western lands and debates around ceding those lands to the federal government. Jackson argues the 1833 bill is not a permanent solution and does not adequately address continued disputes over public lands. He outlines objections to the bill before Congress in vetoing it.
Constitutional Law Your Ironclad Guarantee of FreedomChuck Thompson
This document discusses various aspects of constitutional law, including:
- The supremacy of the U.S. Constitution over other laws according to Article VI of the Constitution.
- Protections provided by the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech and protection from unreasonable searches.
- The principle that unconstitutional statutes are void and unenforceable from the date of enactment based on the 1803 Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court decision.
- Citations from American Jurisprudence discussing the interpretation and application of the Constitution, including the principle that citizens are not bound to obey unconstitutional laws.
After the Revolutionary War, there was disagreement over how to govern the new nation. Some wanted more state power while others wanted a stronger national government. This led to the Articles of Confederation, but it gave most power to the states. In 1787, representatives met at the Constitutional Convention and drafted a new Constitution with a stronger federal government. However, there was still concern over individual liberties, so James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights which enumerated specific freedoms and limits on government power. It was ratified in 1791 as the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.
What did you expect? It's a file!
"On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains to avoid worse pains."
John Adams appointed Marbury as a justice of the peace for Washington D.C. However, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison refused to deliver Marbury's commission. This led to the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, where the Supreme Court established the principle of judicial review. The Court declared that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, marking the first time it struck down a law for being unconstitutional. This established the Supreme Court's ability to review laws and executive actions and determine their constitutionality under the U.S. Constitution.
The Hartford Convention met in 1814 to discuss New England's grievances with the War of 1812 and propose constitutional amendments, including apportioning representation and taxes based on free population only, requiring two-thirds congressional approval for embargoes or interdicting trade, and limiting eligibility for the presidency. The convention recommended further action if their demands were not met.
The document summarizes the structure and organization of the three levels of the federal court system in the United States according to Article III of the US Constitution. It establishes that the judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and any inferior courts established by Congress. It outlines the jurisdiction and roles of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts of Appeals, and District Courts. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in most cases and original jurisdiction in those involving states or ambassadors. Below the Supreme Court are 13 Circuit Courts of Appeals and 94 District Courts that make up the first level where most cases are tried.
The Constitution is an Enforceable Contractable1appeal
The US Constitution is a contract between the governement and the US Citizen enforceable by a court of law.
See the Constitution here: http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm
Article IV of the US Constitution outlines requirements for relations between states. It requires states to give full faith and credit to legal proceedings of other states, and guarantees citizens of each state the privileges and immunities of citizens in other states. It also establishes procedures for returning fugitives from justice and fugitive slaves to the states they fled from, and outlines the process for admission of new states and Congressional power over US territories. Article IV further guarantees each state a republican form of government and federal protection from invasion and domestic violence upon request.
The Articles of Confederation failed to provide a sufficient constitution for America for several reasons:
1) Congress had no power to enforce laws or collect taxes from the states, leaving the government without money or means to pay debts.
2) The structure of equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of population size, led to conflicts between large and small states.
3) Economic disputes between states with ports and those without convenient ports caused dissatisfaction and discord.
The new Constitution was proposed to address these critical flaws by creating a stronger federal government with balanced powers between states and the central authority.
The document provides excerpts from the United States Constitution, outlining the structure and powers of the federal government. It establishes three branches of government - legislative, executive, and judicial - and divides Congress into the House of Representatives and Senate. Key powers granted to Congress include taxation, commerce regulation, and declaring war. The President is established as commander-in-chief and makes treaties with approval of the Senate. The judicial branch has a Supreme Court with life terms for judges. The Constitution can be amended through a process requiring approval by Congress and state legislatures.
The document summarizes key aspects of laws and courts in the United States. It discusses that legislatures make statutes, agencies make regulations, and courts make precedent. It also describes that federal law supersedes state law based on the Supremacy Clause. The court system is structured with trial courts at the bottom, appellate courts in the middle, and the Supreme Court at the top. Federal courts hear cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and disputes between citizens of different states, while state courts hear all other cases.
Alaska is more than 67% federally controlled lands. Hawaii has less than 20% and was granted land by the federal government. Why the difference? The Transfer of Public Lands is the Only Solution Big Enough to 1) fund education, 2) better care for our lands and forests, 3) protect access, 4) create jobs, and 5) grow our local, state, and national economies and tax base.
This document is a decision and order from a United States District Court regarding the subversion of common law by rules. It argues that in 1938, the Supreme Court enacted rules merging equity and common law claims into "civil actions", claiming common law rules caused injustice. However, the document asserts this was an act of treason, as rules cannot overturn the natural law embodied in common law. It maintains that judges are bound only by the Constitution and natural law, and that "civil law" enacted by Congress and rules created by courts improperly restrict rights endowed by our Creator. The document concludes that rules are not law and cannot change the fact that courts are bound by common law principles of equity and maxims.
Anti Federalist Papers No 44, What Congress Can DoChuck Thompson
Anti Federalist Papers No 44, What Congress Can Do, Liberty Education Series, http://www.gloucestercounty-va.com Gloucester, Virginia Links and News website. Visit us for the uncommon.
The document discusses the origins and objects of the federal territorial system in the United States. It begins by describing the conflicts between states over western land claims that created difficulties for the Continental Congress. To resolve this, Congress passed a resolution in 1780 stating that ceded western lands would be held by the federal government and settled as new republican states equal to the existing states. The resolution established that territories would become states for the common benefit of the nation, with sovereignty and independence guaranteed.
The document discusses the key concepts of federalism and the separation of powers between the federal and state governments in the United States. It provides background on the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, and the three branches of government established in the US Constitution: legislative, executive, and judicial. Compromises around representation and powers, such as the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, were needed to develop the federal system. The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people.
The document discusses the framers of the US Constitution and the three branches of government it established. It also summarizes the Bill of Rights, including the first ten amendments protecting individual liberties like freedom of speech, right to bear arms, freedom from unlawful search and seizure. The Supreme Court is described as the highest court that upholds laws through landmark cases on issues like racial discrimination, abortion rights, and elections.
The document summarizes key events of the Constitutional Convention:
1. Delegates met in 1787 to revise the ineffective Articles of Confederation but instead wrote a new Constitution, establishing three branches of government with separated and shared powers.
2. They debated plans like the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and reached compromises, like the Connecticut Compromise and Three-Fifths Compromise.
3. The Constitution went into effect in 1788 after ratification by nine states, but debates continued between Anti-Federalists who opposed it and Federalists who supported a strong national government.
The Declaration of Independence, elaborating upon the following topics relevant and related topics:
-Purpose
-Committee that drafted the document
-Structure of the document
-Jefferson's influences
-Themes of the document
-Free State Theory
-Misconceptions
The document discusses several key aspects of the early national period in the United States, including that the government's authority comes from citizens, elections should be frequent, and individual rights and freedoms should be guaranteed. It also notes debates around the appropriate level of power for the national government versus state governments, as seen in disagreements over the Articles of Confederation. Events like Shays' Rebellion and accumulating debt led to calls for a stronger central government and the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
This document contains the text of Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. It outlines how representatives are apportioned among the states based on population and establishes qualifications for representatives, including a minimum age of 25 years and 7 years of citizenship. It also describes how vacancies in representation are filled and the powers of the House of Representatives.
Articles of confederation and the U.S. Constitutioncrow0317
The document discusses the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the US Constitution. It describes how the Articles of Confederation created a weak federal government and led to Shays' Rebellion, exposing the need for change. This prompted the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where delegates met to draft a new Constitution establishing a stronger federal government with three branches. The Constitution was created through compromises between large and small states, including counting enslaved people as 3/5 of persons for representation and establishing the electoral college. A Bill of Rights was later added to protect individual liberties.
The Great Compromise and the 3/5 Compromise were both essential compromises that helped the delegates agree on a final Constitution, but I believe the Great Compromise establishing our bicameral legislative branch is still the most important structurally for our government today. The Senate representing states equally and House representing population proportionally was a key foundation for the checks and balances in our system.
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which declares the thirteen American colonies' independence from Great Britain. It states that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that when a government harms these rights, it is the people's right to alter or abolish it. It then lists numerous grievances against King George III, including that he refused to pass laws for the public good and obstructed justice. It concludes that the colonies are free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown.
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies.docxwrite5
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which announced the separation and independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. It lists the abuses of power by King George III that led the colonies to declare their independence, including refusing to pass laws, obstructing justice, keeping standing armies, and imposing taxes without representation. It declares the colonies free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown, and pledges "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" in support of independence.
The Declaration of Independence announces the 13 American colonies' separation from Great Britain and establishes the reasons for declaring independence, including that the King of Great Britain has violated their rights through "repeated injuries and usurpations" and that "it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government." It declares the colonies to be "Free and Independent States" and that "they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."
(1) Please explain how the Constitution provides for a system of s.docxkatherncarlyle
The document provides background information on the founding of the United States and the key philosophical documents that established its system of government - the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. It discusses the Enlightenment ideas that influenced the documents, including natural law, popular sovereignty, and the consent of the governed. It then summarizes the key sections and philosophical principles of the Declaration of Independence, including its assertion of unalienable rights and justification of overthrowing tyrannical governments.
The document summarizes the structure and organization of the three levels of the federal court system in the United States according to Article III of the US Constitution. It establishes that the judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and any inferior courts established by Congress. It outlines the jurisdiction and roles of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts of Appeals, and District Courts. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in most cases and original jurisdiction in those involving states or ambassadors. Below the Supreme Court are 13 Circuit Courts of Appeals and 94 District Courts that make up the first level where most cases are tried.
The Constitution is an Enforceable Contractable1appeal
The US Constitution is a contract between the governement and the US Citizen enforceable by a court of law.
See the Constitution here: http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm
Article IV of the US Constitution outlines requirements for relations between states. It requires states to give full faith and credit to legal proceedings of other states, and guarantees citizens of each state the privileges and immunities of citizens in other states. It also establishes procedures for returning fugitives from justice and fugitive slaves to the states they fled from, and outlines the process for admission of new states and Congressional power over US territories. Article IV further guarantees each state a republican form of government and federal protection from invasion and domestic violence upon request.
The Articles of Confederation failed to provide a sufficient constitution for America for several reasons:
1) Congress had no power to enforce laws or collect taxes from the states, leaving the government without money or means to pay debts.
2) The structure of equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of population size, led to conflicts between large and small states.
3) Economic disputes between states with ports and those without convenient ports caused dissatisfaction and discord.
The new Constitution was proposed to address these critical flaws by creating a stronger federal government with balanced powers between states and the central authority.
The document provides excerpts from the United States Constitution, outlining the structure and powers of the federal government. It establishes three branches of government - legislative, executive, and judicial - and divides Congress into the House of Representatives and Senate. Key powers granted to Congress include taxation, commerce regulation, and declaring war. The President is established as commander-in-chief and makes treaties with approval of the Senate. The judicial branch has a Supreme Court with life terms for judges. The Constitution can be amended through a process requiring approval by Congress and state legislatures.
The document summarizes key aspects of laws and courts in the United States. It discusses that legislatures make statutes, agencies make regulations, and courts make precedent. It also describes that federal law supersedes state law based on the Supremacy Clause. The court system is structured with trial courts at the bottom, appellate courts in the middle, and the Supreme Court at the top. Federal courts hear cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and disputes between citizens of different states, while state courts hear all other cases.
Alaska is more than 67% federally controlled lands. Hawaii has less than 20% and was granted land by the federal government. Why the difference? The Transfer of Public Lands is the Only Solution Big Enough to 1) fund education, 2) better care for our lands and forests, 3) protect access, 4) create jobs, and 5) grow our local, state, and national economies and tax base.
This document is a decision and order from a United States District Court regarding the subversion of common law by rules. It argues that in 1938, the Supreme Court enacted rules merging equity and common law claims into "civil actions", claiming common law rules caused injustice. However, the document asserts this was an act of treason, as rules cannot overturn the natural law embodied in common law. It maintains that judges are bound only by the Constitution and natural law, and that "civil law" enacted by Congress and rules created by courts improperly restrict rights endowed by our Creator. The document concludes that rules are not law and cannot change the fact that courts are bound by common law principles of equity and maxims.
Anti Federalist Papers No 44, What Congress Can DoChuck Thompson
Anti Federalist Papers No 44, What Congress Can Do, Liberty Education Series, http://www.gloucestercounty-va.com Gloucester, Virginia Links and News website. Visit us for the uncommon.
The document discusses the origins and objects of the federal territorial system in the United States. It begins by describing the conflicts between states over western land claims that created difficulties for the Continental Congress. To resolve this, Congress passed a resolution in 1780 stating that ceded western lands would be held by the federal government and settled as new republican states equal to the existing states. The resolution established that territories would become states for the common benefit of the nation, with sovereignty and independence guaranteed.
The document discusses the key concepts of federalism and the separation of powers between the federal and state governments in the United States. It provides background on the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, and the three branches of government established in the US Constitution: legislative, executive, and judicial. Compromises around representation and powers, such as the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, were needed to develop the federal system. The 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states and people.
The document discusses the framers of the US Constitution and the three branches of government it established. It also summarizes the Bill of Rights, including the first ten amendments protecting individual liberties like freedom of speech, right to bear arms, freedom from unlawful search and seizure. The Supreme Court is described as the highest court that upholds laws through landmark cases on issues like racial discrimination, abortion rights, and elections.
The document summarizes key events of the Constitutional Convention:
1. Delegates met in 1787 to revise the ineffective Articles of Confederation but instead wrote a new Constitution, establishing three branches of government with separated and shared powers.
2. They debated plans like the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and reached compromises, like the Connecticut Compromise and Three-Fifths Compromise.
3. The Constitution went into effect in 1788 after ratification by nine states, but debates continued between Anti-Federalists who opposed it and Federalists who supported a strong national government.
The Declaration of Independence, elaborating upon the following topics relevant and related topics:
-Purpose
-Committee that drafted the document
-Structure of the document
-Jefferson's influences
-Themes of the document
-Free State Theory
-Misconceptions
The document discusses several key aspects of the early national period in the United States, including that the government's authority comes from citizens, elections should be frequent, and individual rights and freedoms should be guaranteed. It also notes debates around the appropriate level of power for the national government versus state governments, as seen in disagreements over the Articles of Confederation. Events like Shays' Rebellion and accumulating debt led to calls for a stronger central government and the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
This document contains the text of Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. It outlines how representatives are apportioned among the states based on population and establishes qualifications for representatives, including a minimum age of 25 years and 7 years of citizenship. It also describes how vacancies in representation are filled and the powers of the House of Representatives.
Articles of confederation and the U.S. Constitutioncrow0317
The document discusses the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the US Constitution. It describes how the Articles of Confederation created a weak federal government and led to Shays' Rebellion, exposing the need for change. This prompted the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where delegates met to draft a new Constitution establishing a stronger federal government with three branches. The Constitution was created through compromises between large and small states, including counting enslaved people as 3/5 of persons for representation and establishing the electoral college. A Bill of Rights was later added to protect individual liberties.
The Great Compromise and the 3/5 Compromise were both essential compromises that helped the delegates agree on a final Constitution, but I believe the Great Compromise establishing our bicameral legislative branch is still the most important structurally for our government today. The Senate representing states equally and House representing population proportionally was a key foundation for the checks and balances in our system.
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which declares the thirteen American colonies' independence from Great Britain. It states that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that when a government harms these rights, it is the people's right to alter or abolish it. It then lists numerous grievances against King George III, including that he refused to pass laws for the public good and obstructed justice. It concludes that the colonies are free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown.
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies.docxwrite5
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which announced the separation and independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. It lists the abuses of power by King George III that led the colonies to declare their independence, including refusing to pass laws, obstructing justice, keeping standing armies, and imposing taxes without representation. It declares the colonies free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown, and pledges "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" in support of independence.
The Declaration of Independence announces the 13 American colonies' separation from Great Britain and establishes the reasons for declaring independence, including that the King of Great Britain has violated their rights through "repeated injuries and usurpations" and that "it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government." It declares the colonies to be "Free and Independent States" and that "they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."
(1) Please explain how the Constitution provides for a system of s.docxkatherncarlyle
The document provides background information on the founding of the United States and the key philosophical documents that established its system of government - the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. It discusses the Enlightenment ideas that influenced the documents, including natural law, popular sovereignty, and the consent of the governed. It then summarizes the key sections and philosophical principles of the Declaration of Independence, including its assertion of unalienable rights and justification of overthrowing tyrannical governments.
Top of FormLesson 1, Part 1 Foundations of American Gover.docxedwardmarivel
Top of Form
Lesson 1, Part 1: Foundations of American Government
"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."
-George Washington
· The Declaration of Independence
· The U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights
· The Enlightenment and Political Philosophy
Expected Outcomes
To understand the philosophical principles behind the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and how these principles influence the structure and process of government.
Overview
The United States, as a nation, was born of the American Revolution of 1776. This revolution cut the political ties between England and its American colonies. Many "Americans" living in the colonies had complained about harsh British rule. King George of England had ruled over the colonies with a heavy hand, increasing taxes with the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act, for example. These abuses began to divide the "patriots" in favor of independence and the "loyalists" in favor of the English Crown.
Tensions between the American colonials and British soldiers boiled over in the Boston Massacre, when a mob harassed British soldiers, who then fired their muskets into the crowd, killing three, mortally wounding two others, and injuring six.
Another famous incident which helped inspire the American Revolution was the Boston Tea Party of 1773, launched as a protest to the British Tea Act. This Act gave the British East India Company a tea monopoly, shutting out American traders. Bostonians disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, then boarded the British ships and dumped all 342 containers of tea into the harbor.
Two years later, in 1775, there were more serious conflicts between colonials and British troops: the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the prelude for a full conflict. The American Revolutionary War was long, bloody and ended with the French-assisted victory of the American Continental Army in Yorktown in 1781.
An understanding of American government and politics should consider two documents related to this war and its aftermath. The first is the Declaration of Independence, which launched the American Revolutionary War; and the second is the U.S. Constitution, which replaced the post-war Articles of Confederation and which remains the highest law of the land.
This lesson analyzes these documents, noting how they were part of a trans-Atlantic Enlightenment movement with emphasis on reason, freethinking, natural law, popular sovereignty, and human equality. Many of these ideas are visible in the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. These ideas provided the ideological and philosophical framework for the American Revolution.
After the expulsion of the English monarchy, the Articles of Confederation - in effect from 1776 to 1787 - turned the former colonies into largely autonomous states with a weak federal government. However, many people thought that this decentralized system did not solve the problem of providing for a common defense or for ...
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It announces the separation and independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. The Declaration lists 27 grievances against King George III and the British government and concludes by stating that the 13 colonies regard themselves as independent states with full power to make war, conclude peace, and engage in diplomatic relations. It was signed by 56 representatives of the 13 colonies.
This document contains excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. It lists a series of grievances against King George III of Great Britain, including that he refused to pass laws for the public good, obstructed justice, kept standing armies, and imposed taxes without consent. It states that the colonies have petitioned for redress but their pleas have been ignored. The document concludes that the colonies must separate from Britain and declare themselves independent states with full power and authority.
Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of ManDan Ewert
The American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man. For use in discussion of the influence of Locke and Rousseau on the respective declarations, the differences in the declarations, and what they say about the character and priorities of their respective peoples and how subsequent history developed.
Declaration of Independence - United States of AmericaChuck Thompson
1) The Declaration of Independence announces the separation and independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain.
2) It lists the grievances against King George III, including refusing to pass laws for the public good and imposing taxes without consent.
3) It states that the colonies are absolved from allegiance to the British crown and are free and independent states with the power to govern themselves.
The document is the Declaration of Independence, which declares the thirteen American colonies' independence from Britain. It lists the colonies' grievances against King George III, including refusing to pass laws for the public good, dissolving representative houses, making judges dependent on his will, imposing taxes without consent, and depriving colonists of rights like trial by jury. The Declaration states that the colonies have appealed to Britain for redress but have been met with injury instead. It concludes by declaring the colonies free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown.
The document summarizes the declaration of independence made by the 13 American colonies declaring their separation and independence from Britain. It outlines the abuses of power and violations of rights by King George III and the British government as justification for the separation. After repeated attempts to raise concerns with the British government failed, the colonies declared themselves independent states with the power to govern themselves, no longer under British rule.
1. The document is the Declaration of Independence which declares the 13 American colonies independent from British rule based on a long train of abuses and tyrannical acts by King George III.
2. It states that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and it is the right of the people to alter or abolish destructive governments.
3. It lists the abuses and tyrannical acts of King George III which have violated the colonists' rights and necessitate separation from British rule, concluding that the 13 colonies are free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British crown.
Private case analysis questions and requirements1. Answer the f.docxsleeperharwell
Private case analysis questions and requirements:
1. Answer the following questions after you read the case:
a. Discuss the source of Jackson’s wealth and determine the personality matrix. Provide justifications.
b. Discuss (using narrative statement) return objective for the Jackson portfolio; and then
calculate the return objective.
c. Evaluate Jackson’s risk objective, including both willingness and ability to take risk.
Justify with at least two reasons.
d. Discuss five constraints for the Jackson portfolio. Justify each constraint with at least two reasons.
2. Requirements:
a. Do this individually or as a team (if work as a team, the maximum team member is 5).
b. On the cover page, clearly write down your name or your team members' names.
c. Consider this as a “reflection report”, which means you need to provide detailed and comprehensive discussions.
d. You must type using WORD; no handwriting is allowed.
e. No requirement on the minimum words or pages; but you need to clearly answer my questions and meet my requirements.
f. Due date: 3/9, Thursday class
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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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 Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation.
This is the -declare-txt-- In Congress- July 4- 1776 The unanimous De.docxAustinIKkNorthy
This is the "declare.txt":
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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 Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness h.
American Citizens Handbook, Real law, not legal garbage that lawyers think you should be under. This book was written and published in 1840, well before the Civil War or the war of the states. Invaluable information in here. http://www.gloucestercounty-va.com Visit us for real solutions.
The document outlines the structure and powers of the three branches of the US federal government as established by the Constitution:
1) The legislative branch is made up of Congress, which has the power to enact laws, declare war, approve appointments, and conduct investigations. Congress is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate.
2) The executive branch is headed by the President, who enforces laws and acts as commander-in-chief. The President can sign or veto bills, negotiate treaties, issue executive orders, and pardon crimes.
3) The judicial branch consists of federal courts that interpret laws and the constitution. Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Supreme Court is the highest
The document summarizes the historical events that led to the formation of the US Constitution. It describes how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led Virginia to propose a convention in 1786 to discuss interstate commerce. This convention was held in Annapolis in 1787 with few delegates and recommended another convention to address broader reforms. This Philadelphia Convention in 1787 went beyond its mandate to revise the Articles and instead drafted an entirely new Constitution, which was then ratified by the states and replaced the Articles as the new governing framework of the United States.
The Alien and Sedition Acts passed by Congress in 1798 aimed to restrict speech critical of the government and deport immigrants deemed dangerous. The Virginia Resolution argued these Acts were unconstitutional because the federal government's powers are limited to those enumerated in the Constitution. It protested the Acts as infringing on freedom of the press and expression.
Letter to JamesMadisonTO JAMES MADISON.Paris, December 20, 1.docxSHIVA101531
Letter to James
Madison
TO JAMES MADISON.
Paris, December 20, 1787.
Dear Sir,—My last to you was of October the 8th, by the Count de Moustier. Yours of July the
18th, September the 6th and October the 24th, were successively received, yesterday, the day
before, and three or four days before that. I have only had time to read the letters; the printed
papers communicated with them, however interesting, being obliged to lie over till I finish my
despatches for the packet, which despatches must go from hence the day after to-morrow. I have
much to thank you for; first and most for the cyphered paragraph respecting myself. These little
informations are very material towards forming my own decisions. I would be glad even to
know, when any individual member thinks I have gone wrong in any instance. If I know myself,
it would not excite ill blood in me, while it would assist to guide my conduct, perhaps to justify
it, and to keep me to my duty, alert. I must thank you, too, for the information in Thomas Burke’s
case; though you will have found by a subsequent letter, that I have asked of you a further
investigation of that matter. It is to gratify the lady who is at the head of the convent wherein my
daughters are, and who, by her attachment and attention to them, lays me under great obligations.
I shall hope, therefore, still to receive from you the result of all the further inquiries my second
letter had asked. The parcel of rice which you informed me had miscarried, accompanied my
letter to the Delegates of South Carolina. Mr. Bourgoin was to be the bearer of both, and both
were delivered together into the hands of his relation here, who introduced him to me, and
who, at a subsequent moment, undertook to convey them to Mr. Bourgoin. This person was an
engraver, particularly recommended to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Hopkinson. Perhaps he may have
mislaid the little parcel of rice among his baggage. I am much pleased that the sale of western
lands is so successful. I hope they will absorb all the certificates of our domestic debt speedily, in
the first place, and that then, offered for cash, they will do the same by our foreign ones.
The season admitting only of operations in the cabinet, and these being in a great measure secret,
I have little to fill a letter. I will, therefore, make up the deficiency, by adding a few words on the
Constitution proposed by our convention.
I like much the general idea of framing a government, which should go on of itself, peaceably,
without needing continual recurrence to the State legislatures. I like the organization of the
government into legislative, judiciary and executive. I like the power given the legislature to
levy taxes, and for that reason solely, I approve of the greater House being chosen by the people
directly. For though I think a House so chosen, will be very far inferior to the present Congress,
will be very illy qualified to legislate for the Union, for foreign nations, etc., yet this evil does
not weig ...
The document discusses the US flag and what it symbolizes to different people and groups, such as freedom, liberty, and unity for some, but hatred, confusion, and inequality for others. It also references flags of indigenous groups, Black nationalist movements, Puerto Rico, and the LGBT community that do not receive the same recognition. The document includes artwork by Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol depicting the American flag. It then reproduces the United States Declaration of Independence, outlining grievances with King George III that led the 13 colonies to seek independence.
Capital Punishment by Saif Javed (LLM)ppt.pptxOmGod1
This PowerPoint presentation, titled "Capital Punishment in India: Constitutionality and Rarest of Rare Principle," is a comprehensive exploration of the death penalty within the Indian criminal justice system. Authored by Saif Javed, an LL.M student specializing in Criminal Law and Criminology at Kazi Nazrul University, the presentation delves into the constitutional aspects and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment. It examines key legal provisions, significant case laws, and the specific categories of offenders excluded from the death penalty. The presentation also discusses recent recommendations by the Law Commission of India regarding the gradual abolishment of capital punishment, except for terrorism-related offenses. This detailed analysis aims to foster informed discussions on the future of the death penalty in India.
Indonesian Manpower Regulation on Severance Pay for Retiring Private Sector E...AHRP Law Firm
Law Number 13 of 2003 on Manpower has been partially revoked and amended several times, with the latest amendment made through Law Number 6 of 2023. Attention is drawn to a specific part of the Manpower Law concerning severance pay. This aspect is undoubtedly one of the most crucial parts regulated by the Manpower Law. It is essential for both employers and employees to abide by the law, fulfill their obligations, and retain their rights regarding this matter.
1. Page XLV
1 The delegates of the United Colonies of New Hampshire; Mas-
sachusetts Bay; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; Con-
necticut; New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; New Castle,
Kent, and Sussex, in Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; North Caro-
lina, and South Carolina, In Congress assembled at Philadelphia,
Resolved on the 10th of May, 1776, to recommend to the respec-
tive assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no
government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs had been
established, to adopt such a government as should, in the opin-
ion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the hap-
piness and safety of their constituents in particular, and of
America in general. A preamble to this resolution, agreed to on
the 15th of May, stated the intention to be totally to suppress
the exercise of every kind of authority under the British crown.
On the 7th of June, certain resolutions respecting independency
were moved and seconded. On the 10th of June it was resolved,
that a committee should be appointed to prepare a declaration
to the following effect: ‘‘That the United Colonies are, and of
right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are ab-
solved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all po-
litical connection between them and the State of Great Britain
is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.’’ On the preceding day it
was determined that the committee for preparing the declara-
tion should consist of five, and they were chosen accordingly, in
the following order: Mr. Jefferson, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Franklin,
Mr. Sherman, Mr. R. R. Livingston. On the 11th of June a resolu-
tion was passed to appoint a committee to prepare and digest
the form of a confederation to be entered into between the colo-
nies, and another committee to prepare a plan of treaties to be
proposed to foreign powers. On the 12th of June, it was resolved,
that a committee of Congress should be appointed by the name
of a board of war and ordnance, to consist of five members. On
the 25th of June, a declaration of the deputies of Pennsylvania,
met in provincial conference, expressing their willingness to
concur in a vote declaring the United Colonies free and inde-
pendent States, was laid before Congress and read. On the 28th
of June, the committee appointed to prepare a declaration of
independence brought in a draught, which was read, and ordered
to lie on the table. On the 1st of July, a resolution of the conven-
tion of Maryland, passed the 28th of June, authorizing the depu-
ties of that colony to concur in declaring the United Colonies
free and independent States, was laid before Congress and read.
On the same day Congress resolved itself into a committee of the
whole, to take into consideration the resolution respecting inde-
pendency. On the 2d of July, a resolution declaring the colonies
free and independent States, was adopted. A declaration to that
effect was, on the same and the following days, taken into fur-
ther consideration. Finally, on the 4th of July, the Declaration
of Independence was agreed to, engrossed on paper, signed by
John Hancock as president, and directed to be sent to the sev-
eral assemblies, conventions, and committees, or councils of
safety, and to the several commanding officers of the continen-
tal troops, and to be proclaimed in each of the United States,
and at the head of the Army. It was also ordered to be entered
upon the Journals of Congress, and on the 2d of August, a copy
engrossed on parchment was signed by all but one of the fifty-
six signers whose names are appended to it. That one was Mat-
thew Thornton, of New Hampshire, who on taking his seat in No-
vember asked and obtained the privilege of signing it. Several
who signed it on the 2d of August were absent when it was adopt-
ed on the 4th of July, but, approving of it, they thus signified
their approbation.
NOTE.—The proof of this document, as published above, was
read by Mr. Ferdinand Jefferson, the Keeper of the Rolls at the
Department of State, at Washington, who compared it with the
fac-simile of the original in his custody. He says: ‘‘In the fac-
simile, as in the original, the whole instrument runs on without
a break, but dashes are mostly inserted. I have, in this copy, fol-
lowed the arrangement of paragraphs adopted in the publication
of the Declaration in the newspaper of John Dunlap, and as
printed by him for the Congress, which printed copy is inserted
in the original Journal of the old Congress. The same paragraphs
are also made by the author, in the original draught preserved
in the Department of State.’’
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—1776 1
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united
States of America
WHEN in the Course of human events, it be-
comes 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 man-
kind 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 en-
dowed 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 Gov-
ernment 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. Pru-
dence, indeed, will dictate that Governments
long established should not be changed for light
and transient causes; and accordingly all experi-
ence hath shewn, that mankind are more dis-
posed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than
to right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a long
train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invari-
ably the same Object evinces a design to reduce
them under absolute Despotism, it is their right,
it is their duty, to throw off such Government,
and to provide new Guards for their future secu-
rity.—Such has been the patient sufferance of
these Colonies; and such is now the necessity
which constrains them to alter their former
Systems of Government. The history of the
present King of Great Britain is a history of re-
peated injuries and usurpations, all having in di-
rect object the establishment of an absolute
Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let
Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most
wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of
immediate and pressing importance, unless sus-
pended in their operation till his Assent should
be obtained; and when so suspended, he has ut-
terly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the ac-
commodation of large districts of people, unless
those people would relinquish the right of Rep-
resentation in the Legislature, a right inestima-
ble to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at
places unusual, uncomfortable, and distance
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2. Page XLVI
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—1776
from the depository of their public Records, for
the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compli-
ance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses re-
peatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his
invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dis-
solutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby
the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihila-
tion, have returned to the People at large for
their exercise; the State remaining in the mean
time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from
without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population
of these States; for that purpose obstructing the
Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing
to pass others to encourage their migrations
hither, and raising the conditions of new Appro-
priations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Jus-
tice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for estab-
lishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will
alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the
amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and
sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our peo-
ple, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace,
Standing Armies without the Consent of our leg-
islatures.
He has affected to render the Military inde-
pendent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to
a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and
unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent
to their acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops
among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from
punishment for any Murders which they should
commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the
world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Con-
sent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits
of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried
for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free System of English
Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing
therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging
its Boundaries so as to render it at once an ex-
ample and fit instrument for introducing the
same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our
most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally
the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and de-
claring themselves invested with power to legis-
late for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declar-
ing us out of his Protection and waging War
against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts,
burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our
people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of
foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of
death, desolation and tyranny, already begun
with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarce-
ly paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and to-
tally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken
Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against
their Country, to become the executioners of
their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves
by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections
amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the
inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless In-
dian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an
undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes
and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have
Petitioned for Redress in the most humble
terms: Our repeated Petitions have been an-
swered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose
character is thus marked by every act which
may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of
a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our
Brittish brethren. We have warned them from
time to time of attempts by their legislature to
extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances of
our emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed to their native justice and magnanim-
ity, and we have conjured them by the ties of
our common kindred to disavow these usurpa-
tions, which, would inevitably interrupt our
connections and correspondence. They too have
been deaf to the voice of justice and of con-
sanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the
necessity, which denounces our Separation, and
hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, En-
emies in War, in Peace Friends.
WE, THEREFORE, the Representatives of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress,
Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of
the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do,
in the Name, and by Authority of the good Peo-
ple of these Colonies, solemnly publish and de-
clare, That these United Colonies are, and of
Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT
STATES; that they are Absolved from all Alle-
giance to the British Crown, and that all politi-
cal connection between them and the State of
Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dis-
solved; and that as Free and Independent States,
they have full Power to levy War, conclude
Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce,
and to do all other Acts and Things which Inde-
pendent States may of right do. And for the sup-
port of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on
the protection of divine Providence, we mutu-
ally pledge to each other our Lives, our For-
tunes and our sacred Honor.
JOHN HANCOCK.
New Hampshire
JOSIAH BARTLETT, MATTHEW THORNTON.
WM. WHIPPLE,
Massachusetts Bay
SAML. ADAMS, ROBT. TREAT PAINE,
JOHN ADAMS, ELBRIDGE GERRY.
Rhode Island
STEP. HOPKINS, WILLIAM ELLERY.
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3. Page XLVII THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—1776
Connecticut
ROGER SHERMAN, WM. WILLIAMS,
SAM’EL HUNTINGTON, OLIVER WOLCOTT.
New York
WM. FLOYD, FRANS. LEWIS,
PHIL. LIVINGSTON, LEWIS MORRIS.
New Jersey
RICHD. STOCKTON, JOHN HART,
JNO. WITHERSPOON, ABRA. CLARK.
FRAS. HOPKINSON,
Pennsylvania
ROBT. MORRIS, JAS. SMITH,
BENJAMIN RUSH, GEO. TAYLOR,
BENJA. FRANKLIN, JAMES WILSON,
JOHN MORTON, GEO. ROSS.
GEO. CLYMER,
Delaware
CAESAR RODNEY, THO. M’KEAN.
GEO. READ,
Maryland
SAMUEL CHASE, CHARLES CARROLL OF
WM. PACA, Carrollton.
THOS. STONE,
Virginia
GEORGE WYTHE, THOS. NELSON, jr.,
RICHARD HENRY LEE, FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT
TH. JEFFERSON, LEE,
BENJA. HARRISON, CARTER BRAXTON.
North Carolina
WM. HOOPER, JOHN PENN.
JOSEPH HEWES,
South Carolina
THOS. HEYWARD, THOMAS LYNCH, Junr.,
Junr., ARTHUR MIDDLETON.
EDWARD RUTLEDGE,
Georgia
BUTTON GWINNETT, GEO. WALTON.
LYMAN HALL,
NOTE.—Mr. Ferdinand Jefferson, Keeper of the Rolls in the De-
partment of State, at Washington, says: ‘‘The names of the sign-
ers are spelt above as in the fac-simile of the original, but the
punctuation of them is not always the same; neither do the
names of the States appear in the fac-simile of the original. The
names of the signers of each State are grouped together in the
fac-simile of the original, except the name of Matthew Thorn-
ton, which follows that of Oliver Wolcott.’’
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