ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Analyze the preamble to the US Constitution.
CONTEXT:
As the American Revolution progressed, the Second Continental Congress ran the government; but they needed a plan. In November, 1777, after 16 months of debate, they adopted the Articles of Confederation. It was not ratified until 1781 (all states had to approve it before it became official), but it served as the constitution of the states until 1787. At that time a convention was called to revise the Articles; but there were so many problems with the document that it was decided to discard the Articles and redesign the government. The result was the current US Constitution, signed in September, 1787.
The opening words of the US Constitution are called the Preamble. Attaching a preamble to a document was fairly common in the time of the Founders, but this preamble was not written first; for at least two months in the Constitutional Convention no one mentioned including a preamble. Edmund Randolph of Virginia suggested a preamble, one that would explain why the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for America and why establishing a new government was necessary. The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816), a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention.
TEXT:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
INQUIRY:
- The Preamble lists the purposes of the Constitution, but it does not give any part of the government power to enforce these purposes. What is the purpose of the Preamble?
- In the discussion of the Constitution, some said that “We the People” should instead read, “We the States.” What would have been the difference if that word had been changed?
- An original draft of the Preamble listed each individual state rather than “the United States.” Morris made this change; how did that change alter the meaning of the document?
- List the six purposes of the US Constitution.
- For each of the six purposes, describe an experience under the Articles of Confederation that necessitated that purpose.
- Are the purposes of the Constitution philosophical or pragmatic? Justify your response.
- Compare the purposes of the US Constitution to the purposes of the Declaration of Independence.
- What is the source of the federal government’s power?
- What evidence is in the preamble that the Founders expected this document to be permanent?
- In what ways is the Constitution continuing to fulfill its purpose? Give specific examples.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/gouverneur-morris-unforgettable-yet-forgotten
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