“WE the People of the United
States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, pro-vide
for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and estab-lish
this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The document was still evolving, however. The
Massachusetts Compromise, agreed to in February 1788,
called for amendments that would provide protection for
civil rights including freedom of speech, religion and press.
The Bill of Rights, containing the first 10 amendments, was
ratified on Dec. 15, 1791.
The document limited the powers of the new government,
ensuring it would not become as oppressive as the old one.
As Madison put it in the preamble, “The Conventions of a
number of the States, having at the time of their adopting
the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent mis-construction
or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory
and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending
the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best
ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.”
The founding documents, known collectively as the
Charters of Freedom, are on permanent display in the
Rotunda of the National Archives building in Washington,
D.C., where they are viewed by hundreds of thousands
each year.
Above and right: The
Charters of Freedom
site in Bolivia features
landscaping and
engraved bricks in
addition to bronze
reproductions of
America’s founding
documents.Opposite:
Community members
and leaders view the
monument during the
dedication in April.
22
WBM
ALLISON POTTER
ALLISON POTTER
july 2021