The Constitution Versus the Declaration of Independence
The Constitution did not fulfill the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence because it gave the government more power than the people. The Declaration of Independence promised that when the government failed the people, that they (the people) could overrule the the government and institute a new one. The Constitution on the other hand takes away rights of the people, and gives the government ultimate power. Although extremely helpful to our society and the way our country is run, the Constitution ultimately strays away from the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. The people do not have the right to overthrow a government or even alter it if necessary according to the constitution. America was built on a smaller group of people overthrowing a larger government. It is the reason why we have so many freedoms today. A Revolution could not have been accomplished if the colonists were unable to rise against the larger Britain. Toward the end of the declaration it states, "such has the sufferance of these colonies; and such now the necessity which constraints them to alter their former systems of government." This is saying that the colonies have suffered under a tyranny before and for the well being of the country, should not establish a powerful government because it may be destructive and take away certain freedoms. It is stating that the more power people have, their is less of a chance for a dictator or tyrannic leadership to occur. Although a very radical idea (to give most power to the people), that was the main point of the declaration. In the constitution, the government is much more powerful than what the writers of the declaration wanted. Even if a powerful government is good for our country, it is still the exact opposite ideal of the declaration. The Declaration promises citizens unalienable rights, where the Constitution states no such rights. The definition of unaliable rights is those rights that cannot be surrendered,