No documents have as great an influence on the people of the USA as the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These three founding documents define what it means to be American and preserve the freedoms we so proudly display to the world.
So, who wrote these documents? And how did they become law? Here, we dive into the stories behind each one and how they shaped our nation into the free and democratic republic it is today.

1. The Declaration of Independence

For over 150 years, the residents of the 13 Colonies were obedient subjects of the British Crown. Their devotion began to unravel, however, thanks to a seemingly unending increase in taxes and the creation of stricter laws. In the spring of 1775, British troops were ordered to disarm colonist rebels that had become increasingly dissatisfied with British rule. This triggered the start of the Revolutionary War that would end Britain’s reign over America forever.
With deteriorating relations to their motherland, the 13 Colonies (which would later become the original 13 states) united with the shared mission of freeing themselves from British rule. A key committee of five, including Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, drafted a formal statement of the colonies’ intentions. Noted for having a way with words, it was Thomas Jefferson that was chosen to be the primary author. On July 4, 1776, The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and shared with the world.
The Declaration of Independence stated that each colony viewed itself as a sovereign state with no allegiance to the British crown. It also outlined, in detail, the reasons the colonies were seeking independence including a long list of sins the King had committed. Most importantly, this declaration cemented the notion that each person is created equal with a right to life, liberty, and happiness, and if any government tries to remove these rights rather than protect them, the people should revolt and set up a new government. Today, we look back at this document as the cornerstone of our great nation’s establishment and the foundation of the values we so strongly embody as a free country.

2. The Constitution of The United States

Although the Declaration Of Independence marked the birth of a nation, it did not outline how this new republic was going to be governed. What these newly independent states needed was an official governing document that would be regarded as the supreme law of the land which also protected the rights and freedoms of the citizens.
Shortly after winning the Revolutionary War, the colonies formed their own governments and essentially operated like independent countries. Dismayed by this, Alexander Hamilton, a prominent lawyer from New York, called for a constitutional convention to discuss forming a stronger central government that would unite all 13 states.
On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was held in the same hall in Philidelphia that the Declaration of Independence had been adopted. Delegates from each state made up the convention and were tasked to put forth proposals of a new government. Through a unanimous vote, George Washington, a war hero who had led the Continental Army to victory, was selected as the president of the convention.
After many debates and deliberations, the final text of the Constitution was drafted in September of 1787. George Washington was the first to sign the Constitution followed by delegates from most states.
To become official, the convention had decided that the Constitution must be ratified by 9 of the 13 states. On June 21, 1788, the ninth state signed, and alas it was law!
In drafting the Constitution it was imperative to the Founding Fathers that this document be legible to the everyday man. Today, it is still praised for its lack of legal jargon as well as academic language. The Constitution itself describes a strong federal government with three branches — legislative, executive, and judicial— that still preserves the rights and power of each individual state and person.
Beginning with “We the People”, the Constitution truly represents the citizens first and foremost. In a world of empires and oppressive monarchies, the United States rose as a resilient democracy in which the people truly governed themselves. This document is what defines our strength as a nation and what has earned us the title of “Land of The Free”. Our constitution is the oldest codified constitution in the world and is still active as our supreme law.

3. The Bill of Rights

Following the ratification of the constitution, there were many holes that needed to be to be filled as well as objections that needed to be addressed. The Constitution did an excellent job of outlining how the United States would be governed by the people — but what about those people’s individual freedoms? What about protecting these people from the very government they so strongly fought to create?
Obviously, some points needed clarifying which is why a series of meetings were held in the years following the Constitution’s ratification. Many of the Constitution’s deficiencies were brought to light by Anti-Federalists. These were people that were part of a political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger central government and, in some cases, opposed a central government altogether. The many concerns about the Constitution led to the creation of our legendary Bill of Rights.
James Madison, a Founding Father and core advocate for the Bill of Rights, initially proposed that the contents of this bill be integrated into the body of the Constitution itself. However, the states voted in favor of it remaining a separate document. Madison then drafted the official document and presented it to the states.
This Bill of Rights contains many celebrated amendments including the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, and the right to a fair and speedy trial. Additionally, the Bill of Rights limits the central government’s control by stating “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
To everyone that values freedom, the Bill of Rights is as meaningful now as it was when it was written. To uphold what our Founding Fathers fought for, it is our duty as Americans to ensure these rights remain intact.

The Future of Our Freedom

Through careful policymaking, an unyielding fight, and eloquent speech, a group of determined men and women formed the freest and most effective democracy of modern times. The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were not just made for the people that existed in America at the time, but for all future generations as well. As gratitude to our forefathers who liberated this country, we must protect the freedoms secured by these defining documents.