Answer:
The sacred rights of mankind are not to be
rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty
records. They are written, as with a sun beam
in the whole volume of human nature, by the
hand of the divinity itself; and can never be
erased or obscured by mortal power.”
— Alexander Hamilton, 1775
“The basis of our political systems is the
right of the people to make and to alter
their Constitutions of Government. But the
Constitution which at any time exists, ‘till
changed by an explicit and authentic act of the
whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.”
— George Washington, 1796
“The Declaration of Independence...[is the]
declaratory charter of our rights, and of the
rights of man.”
— Thomas Jefferson, 1819
Message fromthe Director
The Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution of the United States are the two most
important, and enduring documents in our Nation’s
history. It has been said that “the Declaration of
Independence was the promise; the Constitution
was the fulfillment.”
More than 200 years ago, our Founding
Fathers set out to establish a government based
on individual rights and the rule of law. The
Declaration of Independence, which officially
broke all political ties between the American
colonies and Great Britain, set forth the ideas and
principles behind a just and fair government, and
the Constitution outlined how this government
would function. Our founding documents have
withstood the test of time, rising to the challenge
each time they were called upon.
Make no mistake, we have been presented with
a timeless framework for self-government, but in
order to preserve this wonderful gift, we must hold
these principles close to our hearts. I encourage you
to read and understand these documents. I promise
you will be nothing short of inspired.
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Explanation:
