134 Chapter 5 | a republiC enviSioned and reviSed | period three 175 4 –18 0 0 tOpIC III | reverberations^135DOcumEnT 5.14 US constitution, Preamble
1787The following preamble to the US Constitution was written during the Constitutional
Convention in 1787 to justify the scrapping of the Articles of Confederation and the cre-
ation of an entirely new government.We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and
our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.National Archives, Charters of Freedom exhibit, http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters
/constitution_transcript.html.pr aCtICING historical thinking
Identify: List the verbs that appear in this document. What kinds of actions do they
describe? What role do they lay out for the new government?
Analyze: Consider the sequence of causes for developing the preamble, beginning
with “in order to form” and ending with “to ourselves and our Posterity.” Why
compose the preamble in this order?
Evaluate: What gaps in the Articles of Confederation does this preamble address?DOcumEnT 5.15 US constitution, article i, Sections 2 and 9
1787The institution of slavery proved to be a sticking point for delegates to the Constitu-
tional Convention. The so-called three-fifths compromise and the extension of the slave
trade until 1808 were compromises between proslavery and antislavery delegates at the
Convention.Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States
which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Num-
bers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons,
including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not
taxed, three fifths of all other Persons....
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now exist-
ing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to06_STA_2012_ch5_115-144.indd 134 11/03/15 3:19 PM