Angel Lovett
GOVT200: Comparison Paper
Spring 2023: Subterm D
Professor Luisa Bowman
April 3, 2023
Within three decades, three important historical documents were written, ratified, and
signed by our Founding Fathers. All three documents serve a different purpose and motive, but
were used to form our government and protect our rights. Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the
Danbury
Baptist, The Constitution, and The Declaration of Independence built the foundation of our
country and continues to make it stronger. These three documents are the home of our freedom,
rights, and liberty.
The Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was created on September 17, 1787 by James
Madison, but wasn’t ratified until June 21, 1788. After the American Revolutionary War ended,
there were 13 colonies who wanted to form their own government and every state had their own
laws and rules. Each state had a representative. In 1787, all the state representatives met in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where The Constitutional Convention took place. During this time
they
met to discuss forming a new government and The Constitution was established. The
Constitution
Is written in three parts: Preambles, Articles, and Amendments. The Preambles explains the
motives of the Constitution and what it is about. The Articles explain how the government is
assembled and how the Constitution is the Law of the land. The amendments, which the first ten
are the Bill of Rights, explain our rights and freedoms that are guaranteed.
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written first out of all three documents. Thomas
Jefferson was the selected representative to write it and it took him 17 days to finish. He
presented
the document to the Second Continental Congress to vote on July 2, 1776. It took two more days
of editing and small changes before it was adopted on July 4, 1776. The Declaration of
Independence declared that the 13 colonies were now the United States and no longer under
Great
Britain's control. The Declaration states that all mean are equal and have the right to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness. It also states if the government takes away these rights or does not
protect them, then we the people have the power to abolish or institute a new government.
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of
the
People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government” (Declaration Of Independence,
1776, National Archives) Without the Declaration, the Constitution wouldn’t exist. They go
together and that's why the Declaration is very important.
Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist
On the day of January 1, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist
to
explain that their religious rights and freedoms would not be affected. And the separation of
church
and the state was not to take away religion but to protect the citizens from having to follow just
one
religion. And that Religion does not control the government and the government does not control
religion. Jefferson stated in his letter that, “Their legislature should make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,"thus building a wall of
separation
between Church & State” (Library of Congress, 1998).
Similarities and Differences of The Constitution and Declaration
The Declaration was written to break all ties with Great Britain and set forth values, ideas,
and
principles for a fair government. The Constitution explains how the government should function
and the checks and balances of power separated between the three branches of government:
Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. All three documents were written with a similar idea of we
have God given rights and the government was formed to protect them and the people. And we
the
People have the right to elect representatives to govern our country.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except
from
God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”( English Standard Version, 2001/2016,
Romans 13:1)
Although when the government was first formed there was no religion written to be
involved,
The Founding Fathers believed that we had natural rights and laws of nature and God. Also
stating the separation of church and state and the separation of God and government was to
protect
these rights and laws. People had the right to practice any religion they wanted or none at all.
And
the government could make and enforce laws without taking sides in support of one religion or
favoring the religious over the non religious.
“The church and state are separate and have different functions and purposes under God as
created by God; however, as we have said, they are not dichotomistically separate because both
are
under God” (Martin, 2006)
References:
Library of Congress, Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists ( 1998)
Declaration of Independence (National Archives)
Constitution (National Archives)
(English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Romans 13:1)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1&version=ESV
Martin, G. R. (2006). Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500. Wesleyan
Publishing House. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/978-1-931283-69-4
