Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution
...shley was referred to him and it was to be a most fortunate turn of events for Locke. Ashley was no ordinary man; he was the first Earl of Shaftesbury, a Lord of the realm. Locke was swept into the halls of power which gave Locke the freedom to study philosophy and Comparison 4 politics. During the years 1684-1689, Locke was out of the country, in France and in Holland due to the English Civil Wars. Upon his return to England, in 1689, Locke adopted a life style that allowed him to compile his works and make them ready for the press. In one year (1690), Locke completed two works that were the greatest of influences in the forging of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. These were the books Human Understanding and the Two Treatises of Government. In the later of the two, Two Treatises of Government, Locke states that “A government rests on popular consent and rebellion is permissible when government subverts the ends (the protection of life, liberty, and property) for which it is established.” Landry (1997-2004) stated; “Locke's object was to insist not only that the public welfare was the test of good government and the basis for properly imposing obligations on the citizens of a country; but also, that the public welfare made government necessary. To Locke, natural justice exists and this is so whether the state exists, or not, it is just that the state might better guard natural justice. The question of whether man would voluntarily put himself under government is but the first question: there then follows along the next, what form of government is best. Locke thought that government's power was best limited by dividing government up into branches, with each branch having only as much power as is needed for its proper function.” Lastly, Locke believed if a government subverts the ends for which it was created then it might be deposed; indeed, Locke asserts, revolution in some circumstances is not only a right but an obligation. Thus, Locke came to the conclusion that the "ruling body if it offends against natural law must be deposed." Comparison 5 The Declaration of Independence In June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson was part of a Virginia delegation that planned to ask the Second Continental Congress to sever its ties from Great Britain. While that historic body was meeting, Jefferson was assigned to a committee that was asked to write a declaration which enumerated the causes that led to that severance. Finding his lodging in the heart of the city uncomfortable, he moved to the rooms of Jacob Graff where the Declaration of Independence was drafted. The opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence closely resembles John Lockes teachings by stating “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.” In the body of the Declaration of Independence the Second Continental Congress charges King George III with forbidding his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, dissolving Representative Houses repeatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people, protecting his soldiers by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States and imposing Taxes on us without our Consent, to name but a few. In closing, the Declaration of Independence states that in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, Comparison 6 that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; 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 Independent States may of right do. In short, the Declaration of Independence states the necessity to separate, the charges against Great Britain and the repercussions of continuing the inhumane and lawless actions against the Colonies. The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights The question of whether man would voluntarily put himself under government is but the first question: there then follows along the next, what form of government is best. These were provocative questions for our newly found Nation. Indeed, what form of Government is best? Locke thought that a government's power was best limited by dividing government up into branches, with each branch having only as much power as is needed for its proper function. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opens with representatives of seven states in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. Eventually all states but Rhode Island are represented. On Sept. 17, 1787, all 12 state delegations approve the Constitution, 39 delegates sign it of the 42 present, and the Convention formally adjourns. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution becomes effective for the ratifying states when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify it. On June 8, 1789, James Madison introduces the proposed Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives. Comparison 7 The United States Constitution provides a solid foundation to base all of our decisions, legal and otherwise. It governs the election process and the behavior of most public officials. It provides a basic understanding of our rights as Americans and the rules with which we can fairly choose representation. The Bill of Rights is the name given to the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution. When the Constitution was submitted to the state legislatures for ratification, many of its opponents claimed that the reason the Constitution did not include a bill of rights was because the document was an aristocratic scheme to remove the rights of Americans. Supporters, known as Federalists, a...