"We the People": The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America

Here, in a single volume, are the two most important American documents ever written: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence was the promise of a representative government; the Constitution was the fulfillment of that promise. Together, these documents form the foundation of American democracy.

The book contains the complete texts of both documents, as well as the Bill of Rights and the successive constitutional amendments.

Here, in a single volume, are the two most important American documents ever written: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence was the promise of a representative government; the Constitution was the fulfillment of that promise. Together, these documents form the foundation of American democracy.

The book contains the complete texts of both documents, as well as the Bill of Rights and the successive constitutional amendments.

A committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingstone, and Roger Sherman was appointed to draft the declaration of independence. Thomas Jefferson was charged with the actual writing of the document. After making several changes to Jefferson’s original draft, Congress voted unanimously to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

The Constitution of the United States of America was drafted chiefly by James Madison, considered to be “The Father of the Constitution” for his major contributions to the document.