'Natural' and 'unalienable' rights means citizens are born with them
Paul G. SummersGuest Columnist
Government does not grant citizens rights. All men and women are born equal. Also, the Constitution is a document consisting of delegated powers.
Study of American government begins with understanding our founding documents. We have reviewed the principles of the Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the Constitution, proposed eleven years later.
The 56 Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration were courageous and brave, as considered by their fellow colonists. As viewed by the King, they probably were deemed traitors. After the Revolutionary War, we were free. Then the Constitution was ratified by nine of the new states. We had a government.
Our Declaration of Independence declared our independence from Great Britain. John Hancock and 55 other courageous men signed the Declaration. On that July 4th those 56 Founders did not know if they were signing their death warrants or a declaration that we would separate from the King of England.
They signed because they thought it was right and just. They were concerned with freedoms. That was just the beginning of governing.
Among these rights are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” That means that we can pursue our happiness as we wish, so long as we do not trample on or impede someone else’s rights. We must have respect for others as they have for us. We are all equal.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the bedrock documents of our government in the United States. They are considered to be our founding documents. Clearly the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, but one can read the Declaration to shed light on the words of our Constitution. When our Founders started to draft the Constitution they looked to the Declaration’s principles. From that document we learn the moral and legal principles upon which our Constitution and its provisions are based.
All men and women are created equal. This is a natural right. In America, no one person has rights that are superior to another person. We do not get these rights from the government. They are natural and unalienable; we are born with them.[/size]
https://www.tennessean.com/story/op...eans-citizens-are-born-with-them/69629866007/
Paul G. SummersGuest Columnist
Government does not grant citizens rights. All men and women are born equal. Also, the Constitution is a document consisting of delegated powers.
Study of American government begins with understanding our founding documents. We have reviewed the principles of the Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the Constitution, proposed eleven years later.
The 56 Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration were courageous and brave, as considered by their fellow colonists. As viewed by the King, they probably were deemed traitors. After the Revolutionary War, we were free. Then the Constitution was ratified by nine of the new states. We had a government.
Our Declaration of Independence declared our independence from Great Britain. John Hancock and 55 other courageous men signed the Declaration. On that July 4th those 56 Founders did not know if they were signing their death warrants or a declaration that we would separate from the King of England.
They signed because they thought it was right and just. They were concerned with freedoms. That was just the beginning of governing.
Among these rights are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” That means that we can pursue our happiness as we wish, so long as we do not trample on or impede someone else’s rights. We must have respect for others as they have for us. We are all equal.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the bedrock documents of our government in the United States. They are considered to be our founding documents. Clearly the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, but one can read the Declaration to shed light on the words of our Constitution. When our Founders started to draft the Constitution they looked to the Declaration’s principles. From that document we learn the moral and legal principles upon which our Constitution and its provisions are based.
All men and women are created equal. This is a natural right. In America, no one person has rights that are superior to another person. We do not get these rights from the government. They are natural and unalienable; we are born with them.[/size]
https://www.tennessean.com/story/op...eans-citizens-are-born-with-them/69629866007/
