The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States © North Carolina Community College System Clip art from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

The American colonies declared their independence in 1776, but the British did not want to let the colonies go.

For several years, the British and the Americans fought a war For several years, the British and the Americans fought a war. This war is called the American Revolution.

Finally the British surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. The colonies won their freedom!

As a new country, the United States had to set up a government.

Delegates from all thirteen states met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting was called the Constitutional Convention.

In 1787, the delegates wrote a constitution—a set of rules—for the United States. It is still used today. These rules are the oldest and the shortest written constitution of any government in the world!

The first words of the United States Constitution are We the People . . . . Remember, the Declaration of Independence says that government gets its power from the consent of the governed!

The United States Constitution establishes a republic. It is a government under a charter or a constitution. A republic is a government without a king.

Under a constitution everyone must obey the laws, even elected leaders and government officials. This is known as the rule of law. No one is above the law.

The United States Constitution has three parts. A Preamble 7 Articles 27 Amendments

The Preamble says the Constitution is being established so that We the People . . .

Can have a just legal system

Can have peace inside the country

Can defend the United States from other countries

Can have a better life

Can be free and can be sure freedom will last for our descendents

The middle part of the Constitution is the seven Articles The middle part of the Constitution is the seven Articles. We look at them in the next lesson. 7 Articles