On this #FlashbackFriday, we are reviewing the preambles of the first and second drafts of the Constitution of the United States to demonstrate how #WordsMatter. The first draft, shown on top, includes a preamble that lists each of the original thirteen states individually. The second draft, shown on bottom, features the more familiar preamble, beginning “We, the People of the United States”. This powerful and important edit increased the intended impact of the preamble by literally uniting the states in clear and concise terms.
Both drafts in our collection, dated thirty-seven days apart, were once owned by John Dickinson and feature his signature, shown here, as well as his annotations and proposed edits. Dickinson’s signature can also be found on the official draft of the Constitution, ratified June 21, 1788. #WIP
United States. Constitution We the people of the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following constitution for the government of ourselves and our posterity. [Philadelphia : s.n, 1787] 7, [1] leaves ; 2°
United States. Constitution We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, to 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. [Philadelphia : s.n, 1787] 4 leaves ; 4°.
