To understand the Constitution’s significance, we must first examine the historical and legal realities that shaped the American colonies in the years leading up to 1776 before Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
From the early 1600s through the mid-1700s, British settlers established thirteen colonies along North America’s eastern seaboard. These settlers were driven by the promise of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and political liberty. However, despite their new homes and communities, the colonists remained legally subject to British authority—governed by the same imperial policies that regulated Britain’s far-flung colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
What made the North American colonies unique, however, was that they were colonies of settlement, not mere commerce. The settlers, differing from the transient nature of commerce-based colonies, developed deep roots in their new land. They built their lives on family, farming, and community, creating a legacy of independence and prosperity through each new generation. Over time, the colonists came to see themselves as natives to North America and distinct from their British counterparts.
This emotional attachment to their land and way of life caused a natural tension. While still under British rule, the colonists placed their own interests above British policies, prioritizing their local governance over the distant mandates of the Crown.
Tensions Between Britain and the Colonies
Several factors heightened tensions between Britain and its North American colonies.
Charter Colonies and Self-Governance
Unlike other British colonies governed directly by the Crown, many North American colonies operated under charters. These documents, granted by the Crown, allowed the colonies to establish their own local governments. This degree of self-governance fostered independence and fueled resistance to British interference.
Lack of British Military Protection
Despite their growing importance, the colonies received little military support from Britain. The British government, viewing the colonies as secure from external threats, did not see a pressing need to station an army in North America. This neglect left the colonists feeling vulnerable and undervalued.
Self-Sufficiency and Cultural Independence
The North American colonies were the only self-sufficient colonies in the British Empire. They had abundant raw materials, flourishing industries such as cloth-making and printing, and a vibrant culture marked by their own literature and ideas. These achievements further differentiated the colonies from Britain and deepened their sense of independence.
Salutary Neglect: A Policy of Benign Neglect
One of the most significant dynamics shaping colonial-British relations was a policy known as salutary neglect, a term coined by Edmund Burke in 1775. This unofficial British policy involved the lax enforcement of parliamentary laws on the American colonies during the 1600s and 1700s. The intent was to ensure colonial loyalty while Britain focused its attention on European affairs.
While this policy allowed the colonies to thrive economically and tov a great degree politically, it also planted the seeds of discontent. Over time, the colonists grew accustomed to managing their own affairs and resisted attempts by Britain to reassert control.
By the mid-1700s, these tensions—rooted in self-governance, cultural independence, and the legacy of salutary neglect—set the stage for the colonies’ eventual push for independence.
Thomas Jefferson did not intend the Declaration of Independence to be an original work but rather a clear and compelling argument for the American colonies' right to independence, rooted in common sense. He described it as “an expression of the American mind,” capturing the shared beliefs and principles of the time. The document opens with a preamble, followed by a list of grievances against the British Crown, a formal declaration of independence, and the signatures of its endorsers. More than just a statement of separation, it marked the birth of a new nation and laid the ideological foundation for the United States Constitution, establishing the principles of liberty, equality, and self-governance.