U.S. Constitution Breakdown - Lesson 4A and 4B

Refers to all the citizens in the United States. Even though this means all, women, Native Americans, and slaves were left out of this document. It would take many years (more than any of the founding fathers were alive) for this phrase to apply to everyone legally living within the United States.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• to insure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

Was included to emphasize the belief that this new document (as opposed to the Articles of Confederation) that would be a better way to govern the country.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• to insure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

Was included as a reminder of the injustices that colonists had endured under the British crown before declaring independence. In addition, the phrase was to serve as a lasting guarantee that justice would be the key to a successful democratic government.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• to insure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

Shay’s Rebellion was fresh in everyone’s mind, so to ensure peace inside the country’s borders this phrase was added.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• to insure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

This phrase was included in order to address the concern that the new nation was still vulnerable to foreign attack.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• to insure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

This phrase was added to ensure citizens that the well-being of the general citizenry would be taken care of by the federal government.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Ordain and establish the Constitution of the US of A.

• secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

• Promote the general welfare

The point of this phrase was to protect the nation’s hard-earned rights and core democratic values such as liberty, freedom from a tyrannical government, and from unjust laws.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Ordain and establish the Constitution of the US of A.

• secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

• Promote the general welfare

This last phrase of the Preamble is a powerful statement reinforcing the principle of democracy--that the people of the country give the government its power.

• We the people

• In order to form a more perfect union

• Ordain and establish the Constitution of the US of A.

• secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

• Promote the general welfare

Freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. These are the five basic freedoms of an individual

• Amendment 1

• Amendment 2

• Amendment 3

• Amendment 4

• Amendment 5

The right to keep and bear arms. This is a major source of debate--does it refer to a militia, or to individuals?

• Amendment 1

• Amendment 2

• Amendment 3

• Amendment 4

• Amendment 5