What are the similarities between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights?

No matter where you’re from, you’ve surely heard of all the important documents that laid the foundation for the birth of America. But when it comes to the Declaration of Independence vs. the Constitution, what’s the difference, actually? We’ve gotten to the bottom of it, and even thrown in some other facts about the Declaration of Independence (and its signatures) and the Constitution. For more on American history, check out this 4th of July trivia and these 4th of July quotes. Plus, what is the 4th of July anyway?

What’s the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?

In short, the Declaration of Independence states that the United States of America is a country in its own right, independent of England, and includes a list of grievances against the king of England, while the U.S. Constitution formed our federal government and set the laws of the land. There are no amendments to the Declaration of Independence, but the Constitution originally had 12.

Is the Declaration of Independence older than the U.S. Constitution?

The Declaration of Independence dates back to 1776. The document was finalized on July 4 of that year, though it was not officially signed by representatives from all the 13 colonies until August 2. Did you know that? Test how well you know the Declaration of Independence.

The U.S. Constitution wasn’t written until the Constitutional Convention, from May 25 to September 17, 1787.

Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence and went on to serve as the third president of the United States.

James Madison, who is considered the “Father of the Constitution,” would go on to serve as the fourth president of the United States.

What are the preambles?

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence begins with the famous sentence: “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.”

The U.S. Constitution begins with “We the people of the United States of America,” which is notable because it shows that the Constitution is “of the people, for the people, and by the people of the United States.” At the time it was written, the idea of a government “for the people” was novel.

Who signed both documents?

One of the most common misconceptions is that both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were drafted and signed by the same people. Despite the two documents being written just 11 years apart, only six men—George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson—signed both. Jefferson was not involved in writing the Constitution and wasn’t even in the United States in 1787 for the Constitutional Convention. At the time, the future third president was serving as the American Minister to France. Did you know that the reason we set off fireworks for Independence Day has to do with the Founding Fathers?

Declaring independence was a momentous moment but also one fraught with peril for those who put their John Hancock on that document. It was seen as a treasonous act against England. Given that, it’s surprising that there are more signatures on the Declaration of Independence (56) than on the Constitution (39).

Did these documents create equality?

Neither document condemned nor attempted to halt the business of slavery, despite the preamble to the Declaration of Independence stating that “all men are created equal.” Some believe Jefferson meant that phrase to mean all humanity is created equal, and according to Constitution Facts, “Jefferson had originally included language condemning the British promotion of the slave trade,” but that language was later edited out. Jefferson himself was a slave owner, and he was no longer alive when Black Americans became free.

Meanwhile, the Constitution allowed for each slave to count as three-fifths of a person when determining representation in Congress and taxation, in what became known as the “Three-Fifths Compromise.” Smaller, Southern slave-owning states were wary of larger states having too much power in the House of Representatives and argued that slaves should count in some way toward their population counts. Also read about why even hate speech is protected under the U.S. Constitution.

At the time the Declaration of Independence was written, women were not included in the “All men are created equal” statement, either. In addition to not uniformly having the right to vote until the passage of the 19th amendment to the Constitution in 1920 (much later than many other countries), back in 1776, most women were essentially considered the “property” of their fathers or husbands.

How many copies of each were made?

There were about 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence printed by John Dunlap and distributed throughout the colonies. Those precious copies are now known as “Dunlap Broadsides”—they are super rare and now worth a fortune. It’s thought that only 25 of these copies still exist. The next time you’re at a yard sale, keep your eyes peeled because a few decades ago one lucky shopper unknowingly purchased a previously unknown Dunlap Broadside for $4 at a flea market and sold it for $2.4 million in 1991.

The Constitution, on the other hand, was only written down once, although 14 copies of the Bill of Rights were produced, one for each of the original 13 states and one for the federal government to keep.

Visit the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom housed inside The National Archives in Washington D.C. to see the original Constitution, a copy of one of the original Declarations of Independence, and a copy of the original Bill of Rights, including the 12th proposed amendment that was not ratified. Next, learn about all the glaring grammar mistakes in the U.S. Constitution.

Sources:

Myths About the U.S. Constitution

Originally Published: May 18, 2021

We see America at its worst. In their quest for power, political elites in both parties want to turn the nation 's core beliefs upside down. They believe the power of government should be more important than individual rights. Policy discussions quickly degenerate into discussions of government-selected winners and losers. The end result is an overregulated and over-politicized nation. The remedy is to recognize that in a diverse nation, there is no permanent majority. We all benefit when our rights are protected. Lasting political unity can come only from respecting freedom first. Abraham Lincoln, the president who preserved the Union and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declared, "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence."…show more content…
The Declaration, it seems, may have ignited the fire under which the Bill of Rights and the Constitution were written. The Declaration is in large part a summary of what the Bill of Rights stands for. The Bill of Rights in the United States is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known. While the Declaration offered independence from Britain and made general statements, the Bill of Rights offers conclusive and specific rights and laws, from freedom of speech, press and religion, to the right to keep and bear arms; the freedom of assembly; the freedom to petition; prohibits unreasonable search and seizure; cruel and unusual punishment; and compelled self-incrimination. The first ten amendments are truly and expansion on what the first fifty six signers of the Declaration had

The tyranny of England was not the sole power that led to the rights and liberty declared in the Declaration of Independence. Instead, it was Britain’s own Bill of Rights which acted as a precursor to America’s document of freedom. Although there are a vast amount of similarities between the two documents, I will argue that they are different in stated grievances, remedies, views on sources of political power, models of governance, and of rights and government. The English Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, though filled with similarities in regards to their stated grievances, are also spotted with differences. The distinct grievances of the Declaration include the statement that King George attempted to suppress the colonial…show more content…
In regards to view points of the political source of power, the English Bill of Rights asserts that rulers receive their power from the hand of God. This is found as the Bill states that, “…it hath pleased Almighty God in his marvelous providence and merciful goodness to this nation to provide and preserve their said Majesties' royal persons most happily to reign over us upon the throne of their ancestors”. Furthermore, it states the following about God granting William of Orange Kingship: “…it hath pleased Almighty God to make the glorious instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power”. In contrast, the Declaration’s view point on this is found in the following excerpt: “To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The Declaration concedes that God establishes government, but they ultimately get their power and authority from the citizens. These governments are also different regarding their models of governance. The Bill of Rights sets forth a constitutional monarchy in which the king holds power. However, the monarch’s power is kept in check by set rules and Parliament. However, the Declaration of Independence establishes the second Continental Congress which stands in charge of declaring war and trade. (Ben Franklin) This head of government is above a union of