How did complaints against Great Britain made in the Declaration of Independence shape the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

1 Answer
Apr 20, 2017

Government's role should be to protect its citizens not opress them.

Explanation:

" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness .

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness * "

Jefferson made clear that the British crown had abused the rights of the colonists in his declaration.

Some parts of the Bill of Rights" 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 ." directly echo the declaration " For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us "