What is the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution?

Are they alike or different?

BOTH! They are actually different in some very important ways. But they do have some things in common other than looking alike!

Similarities Both are extremely important in American history. They were written only about a decade apart. Both documents were signed by some of the same people. Both documents are quoted often.

Declaration or Constitution? Match the phrase to the correct document. “We the people…” “When in the course of human events…” “freedom of speech” “cruel and unusual punishment” “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Differences There is one major difference between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence: the purposes of the two documents. The Declaration of Independence is just what is sounds like -- a declaration that the U.S. is an independent nation. The Constitution actually establishes the basis for our national government. It is the “supreme law of the land.” So, one document just announced to the world that America is a country and the other actually laid out a design for how the country would work.

Declaration of Independence 1776 Preamble: When in the… U.S. Constitution 1788 Preamble: We the People…

YOUR TURN! This nine-weeks, you will learn much more about these two documents. You will work (alone or with a group) to create a presentation that explains how these two documents are different. In addition, we will look at the actual text of both documents.