Which document begins with we the people

The newly established US national government initially sought to purchase land from American Indians by treaties, but states and settlers were frequently at odds with this policy. According to George Washington:. The treaty served as a supposed peace treaty between the Iroquois and the Americans, yet it effectively procured more land from the American Indians and into the hands of the US government.

In this treaty, the Iroquois Confederacy ceded all claims to the Ohio territory, a strip of land along the Niagara River, and all land west of the mouth of Buffalo Creek.

It asked the US government to return the deeds and indemnify it for the land it had given away. The general American Indian confederacy also disavowed the treaty, as most members of the Six Nations did not live in the Ohio territory. At one time, historians believed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix was an example of Iroquois being forced to accept unreasonable cessions. However, since the late 20th century, historians have credited the Iroquois with high-level strategic thinking in terms of giving up little-used land to deflect English settlement away from their own, more valuable homeland.

Pennsylvania land purchases : A map showing land purchases from Native Americans in Pennsylvania — The cultural assimilation of American Indians was an assimilation effort by the United States to transform American Indian culture to European-American culture between the years of and With increased waves of immigration from Europe, there was growing public support among US citizens for education to encourage a standard set of cultural values and practices that the majority of citizens would hold in common.

Education was viewed as the primary method in the acculturation process for minorities. George Washington and Henry Knox were the first to propose cultural transformation of American Indians. When the Indian Wars had concluded, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the government outlawed the practice of traditional religious ceremonies.

It established American Indian boarding schools that children were required to attend. There they were forced to speak English, study standardized subjects, attend church, and leave tribal traditions behind.

The United States appointed agents, such as Benjamin Hawkins, to live among the American Indians and teach them how to live in accordance with European standards. Slavery in the new Republic, while a debated issue, bolstered the economic backbone of the United States. Compare and contrast the factors that shaped the institution of slavery in the North and in the South, and evaluate the role African Americans played during the Revolutionary Period. During the American Revolutionary War, both the British and American governments, in principle, offered freedom and resettlement to slaves willing to fight for them.

Free black people in the North and South fought on both sides of the Revolution, though most fought for the colonial rebels. Many African-American slaves became politically active during these years in support of the King, as they thought Great Britain might abolish slavery in the colonies at the end of the conflict. Tens of thousands used the turmoil of war to escape from slavery.

White American advocates of independence were commonly called out in Britain for their hypocritical calls for freedom while maintaining slavery in the colonies. Despite their criticism, however, the British continued to permit the slave trade in other parts of the world.

One of the most contentious slavery-related questions during the drafting of the Constitution was whether slaves would be counted as part of the population in determining representation in the Congress, or if they would be considered property not entitled to representation.

Delegates from states with large populations of slaves argued that slaves should be considered people in determining representation. Simultaneously, they argued slaves should be considered property if the new government were to levy taxes on the states based on population. Delegates from states where slavery had become rare argued the opposite: that slaves should be included in taxation, but not in determining representation.

This final compromise established the policy of counting slaves as three-fifths of a person. Another issue was what should be done about the international slave trade and slave importation. While slavery was a debated issue, it also bolstered the economic backbone of the United States.

The agricultural economy of the US South especially depended on slavery and the internal slave trade to provide free labor. If the Constitution adopted a plan that upset one region, then the states of that region may have withdrawn from the Philadelphia Convention.

Convention delegates agreed to incorporate provisions supporting and protecting slavery in the Constitution to placate slaveholding states that refused to join the Union if slavery were not allowed. To address this, Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution allowed continued importation of slaves. By for two decades prohibiting changes to the regulation of the slave trade, Article V effectively protected the trade until During that time, planters in states of the lower South imported tens of thousands of slaves.

As further protection for slavery, the delegates approved Section 2 of Article IV, which prohibited citizens from providing assistance to escaping slaves, and required the return of chattel property to owners. Though Thomas Jefferson, a slaveholder, wrote the Declaration of Independence, the document propounded ideals of freedom that became important to the abolitionist movement.

Jefferson, a political advocate of liberty and equality among men, lived in a slave society; he owned plantations spanning thousands of acres, and inherited hundreds of slaves during his lifetime. As a slaveholder, Jefferson perpetuated the slave society in which he lived, while also making contributions to the rise of anti-slavery constitutionalism in the United States.

He took actions that both advanced and limited slavery in the United States. Some historians have claimed that, as a representative to the Continental Congress, Thomas Jefferson wrote an amendment or bill that would abolish slavery. However, it has been documented that he refused to add gradual emancipation, stating that the timing was not right.

After , Jefferson remained publicly silent on, or did little to change, slavery within the United States. Between and , slavery was outlawed in every state north of the Ohio River and the Mason—Dixon Line. Starting in , Northern states started to abolish slavery, beginning with Vermont, which ended the practice under its new state constitution.

Massachusetts effectively ended slavery before the end of the century by means of a court case. States usually instituted abolition on a gradual schedule, with no government compensation to the owners. Many states, such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, required long apprenticeships of former slave children before they gained freedom and came of age as adults.

Through the Northwest Ordinance of , slavery was prohibited in the territories northwest of the Ohio River, while territories south of it and Missouri did allow slavery. In the first two decades after the war, the legislatures of the slave states Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware made it easier for slaveholders to free their slaves. The demand for slaves in the South rose with the growth of cotton as a commodity crop, especially after the invention of the cotton gin, which enabled widespread cultivation of short-staple cotton in the upland regions.

As the demand for slave labor in the Upper South decreased because of changes in crops, planters began selling their slaves to traders and markets to the Deep South in an internal slave trade.

This caused the forced migration of an estimated one million slaves during the following decades. Map showing the distribution of the slave population of the US Southern states. During the time of the new US Constitution and the development of the new Republic, women were widely considered inferior to men. A day earlier, it had made it mandatory for school students across the state to read the Preamble during the morning assembly.

The decisions have come at a time when protests have erupted against The Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens across the state. In a Constitution, it presents the intention of its framers, the history behind its creation, and the core values and principles of the nation. Although not enforceable in court, the Preamble states the objects of the Constitution, and acts as an aid during the interpretation of Articles when language is found ambiguous.

Sovereignty means the independent authority of the State, not being subject to the control of any other State or external power. But a vote by itself does not represent very much to a person who is down and out, to a person, let us say, who is starving and hungry.

Political democracy, by itself, is not enough except that it may be used to obtain a gradually increasing measure of economic democracy, equality and the spread of good things of life to others and removal of gross inequalities. What does democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity which are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity.

They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,. Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,.

And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,.

Government is a sacred trust of the people, the authority for which is derived from the people, the powers of which are exercised by the representatives of the people, and the benefits of which are enjoyed by the people. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of different States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction.

In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive when the Legislature cannot be convened against domestic Violence.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article ; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Washington—Presid t. And deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire John Langdon. Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham. Rufus King. Connecticut Wm. Roger Sherman. New York Alexander Hamilton.

New Jersey Wil: Livingston. David Brearley. Pennsylvania B Franklin. Thomas Mifflin. Robt Morris. Jared Ingersoll. James Wilson. Gouv Morris. Delaware Geo: Read. Gunning Bedford jun. John Dickinson. Richard Bassett. Jaco: Broom.

Maryland James McHenry. Dan of St. Danl Carroll. Virginia John Blair—. James Madison Jr. North Carolina Wm. Dobbs Spaight. Hu Williamson. South Carolina J. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

Charles Pinckney. Pierce Butler. Georgia William Few. Abr Baldwin. Attest William Jackson Secretary. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 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.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice.