| The American Driver From Drivers...For Drivers |
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Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's
most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases,
Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the
Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental
philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of
grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother
country.
most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases,
Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the
Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental
philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of
grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother
country.
The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the
Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned
from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25. Through discussion and debate it became clear
by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of
government. All through the summer, in closed sessions, the delegates debated, and redrafted the articles of the new
Constitution. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many
representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected--directly by the people
or by the state legislators. The work of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and
the art of compromise.
Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned
from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25. Through discussion and debate it became clear
by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of
government. All through the summer, in closed sessions, the delegates debated, and redrafted the articles of the new
Constitution. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many
representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected--directly by the people
or by the state legislators. The work of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and
the art of compromise.