Preamble to the Constitution

What the Preamble ContainsThe Preamble provides knowledge of: Who established the government

- “we the people”

For what purpose we established the government

- “to form a more perfect union…and secure the Blessings of Liberty”

The benefits of our action- “ourselves and our posterity”

Constitution Writers The Constitution was written by many

committees, but the committee most responsible for it was the “Committee of Stile and Arrangement”

The committee was tasked with getting all of the articles and clauses agreed by the Convention and then putting them into logical order

The members were: Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Governor Morris

The text in the Preamble and much of the other parts of the Constitution are credited to Governor Morris

Preamble

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a moreperfect 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."

Implies the supreme nature of our country

Speaks to the “common man” The Framers knew that if they

made the nation up of elite men, and not the common man, then there would be a revolution

It shows that the Constitution was not made by a god or king- but by the people of the nation

“in order to form a more perfect Union” The Framers wanted what was best for

the nation The Articles of Confederation was at first

good quality, but soon started to break down. So, the Framers wanted to make the nation more perfect than before

The Articles of Confederation is a document that was our country’s first constitution. It was about unity among the 13 states,

while allowing each state to remain independent

“establish justice”

In 1787, unfairness was a great fear with the citizens of the U.S.

People wanted courts to be equal They wanted fair trade within and

outside of the borders of our country

“insure domestic tranquility”

One of the events that caused the Convention was Shay’s Rebellion, where Massachusetts farmers revolted

Many people were shocked that war veterans revolted against the government

Most people were concerned about the tranquility at their homes, so the Framers hoped that the powers given to the federal government would prevent rebellions in the future.

“provide for the common defense” The new nation was fearful of

attacks from Britain and Spain No one state could fend off an

attack from land or sea, so they decided they needed each other to survive

“promote general welfare”

Conclusion to everything said before it in the preamble: tranquility, justice, and defense was to promote general welfare

Allows every state and every citizen of those states to benefit from what the government can provide

Framers wanted the expansion of land holdings, industry, and investment, and they knew that having a strong national government would be the start of it

“secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our

Posterity” Framers looked forward to the

blessings of liberty because they had fought for it for so long

They were concerned that they were creating a nation in which citizens were looking out for the interests of the “king” or president, instead of looking forward to freedom

“do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United

States of America”

Finishes the “we the people” thought

The Constitution being “ordained” shows that there is a higher power involved - not of a single human, but as a nation together