NAME:_________________________
We The People: Preamble Analysis
Directions: Read the sections of the Preamble below and explain—in your own words—the intent of each
section. WHAT does each part mean? WHY would each part be necessary? HOW would the framers expect the
Constitution to achieve each goal? Use the historical perspective on the back to give you some background
information on what was going on at the time the Constitution was written.
We the People of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
in order to:
1. form a more perfect Union,
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2. establish Justice,
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3. insure domestic Tranquility1,
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4. provide for the common defense,
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5. promote the general Welfare2,
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6. secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity3,
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1
Domestic Tranquility: Peace in the US
Welfare: Health and wellbeing of all people
3
Posterity: Future generations of Americans
2
NAME:_________________________
Historical Perspective:
The US Constitution was written in 1787. The Preamble is the opening statement to the United States
Constitution. It explains the reasons why the Framers of the Constitution made our government a republic. By
doing this, the founding fathers replaced the Articles of Confederation. The Preamble along with the rest of the
Constitution was written over a period of about 6 weeks. The Preamble helped explain why the Constitution
was written.
The previous government under the Articles of Confederation was very limited. There were no
provisions for an executive office (president) or a federal court system under the Articles of Confederation.
There was only a legislative Congress to make laws, but under the Articles of Confederation, this Congress had
no real authority to force the states to adhere to those laws. When the Framers wrote the Constitution, they felt
that they were making new government that would be a better way to govern the country by centralizing many
powers at the federal level, while still giving states some autonomy and independence.
Even though the Revolutionary war had ended in 1783, just a few years before the Constitution was
drafted, the threat of tyranny was still very fresh in the Framers’ minds. In addition, the Framers were worried
about other countries coming in to try to take over the newly formed America. They wanted to make sure this
new Constitution created a country that would not have the flaws inherent in a monarchy, but that would also be
able to keep foreign invaders from coming in and taking over, since the individual states had no way to defend
themselves. The Framers knew all states would have to work together for defense.
In addition to outside threats, many citizens were worried about keeping the peace within America’s
borders. Shay’s Rebellion was an uprising of farmers in Massachusetts against the state for having to repay war
debts. The Framers of the Constitution wanted to prevent further uprisings from within the states.
Finally, the Framers wanted to ensure that Americans were given liberty and safety, and that their liberty
and safety was protected long into the future of the country. All of this history and all of these necessities were
taken into account when the Framers wrote the Constitution and drafted the Preamble.