independence (1)
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Liberty University *
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201
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Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by BaronMongooseMaster882
Comparison Paper: Final Submission Assignment
By:
Andrea Gibson
GOVT205 D05
Liberty University
Professor Johnson
November 6, 2023
Three Significant American Historical Documents
There were three significant documents that made the foundation for America .The United States
Constitution, one of the oldest in the world, was drafted in 1787 and includes all laws and
regulations that are used by the government and the people. The United States Constitution was
signed next, then the Declaration of Independence, and lastly a letter written by Thomas
Jefferson in 1802 (Jefferson, 1802). The significance of these three papers in history cannot be
overstated, and it is of the utmost importance to understand the motivations behind why they
were written. This essay will compare and contrast each of these documents and look at the ideas
that the people who created our country had about the separation of religion and state and
between God and the government.
It can be challenging to determine what the signers truly intended and consented upon when
comparing the three documents. The first of the three documents was the declaration of
independence. “The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on
July 4, 1776” (Britannica. ,2023). Congress did not, however, decide to accept Thomas
Jefferson's document until July 4, 1776. The King, the colonists, and the entire world were the
three target audiences for the Declaration of Independence. It was made to multitasking as well.
Its objectives were to proclaim the founding of a new nation, win over foreign allies, and
mobilize the troops. The Declaration of Independence has numerous religious connections,
which is the first obvious distinction between it as well as the other two documents. It expressly
mentions God in addition to faith. Contrarily, there are fewer allusions to religion or higher
powers in the Constitution.
Additionally, the signatories sought to grant the American people the
freedom to select a higher power, if any, to worship according to their religious beliefs.
The supreme law of the United States of America is the United States Constitution “The
Constitution was written in 1787, ratified in 1788, took effect in 1789, and today remains the
world’s longest enduring written charter of government” (Longley, 2022).
The United States
Constitution does not make as many religious allusions to God or a higher power. In contrast to
the Declaration of Independence, it was drafted as a guide. It was written to help people
understand how to manage an independent government properly. The Preamble to the
Constitution lays out the "Why" behind the document but doesn't grant any legal authority.
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Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, November 5). Declaration of Independence.
Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Independ
Longley, R. (2022, January 2). U.S. Constitution: Articles, amendments and preamble.
ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-us-constitution-articles-amendments-and-preamble-
3322389