The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America [antikvár]

PREFACE (^^e United States was created by the Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate on July 4 of every year. Although inspiring, the Declaration is not law. Americans are governed by the Constitution, which creates both our institutions and our rights. Of the two documents, the Declaration is a much easier read. With the Declaration, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, the colonies sought to establish their independence. They also sought to defend that independence by offering an explanation to their own people and to the world. The central plea of the Declaration is for self-government. It urges that a government obtains its just power only "from the consent of the governed." It complains that in numerous ways, George III, the King of England, has violated the people's right to govern themselves. "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly;" he "has called I i i'