Declaration of Independence-The slaveholding, aristocratic, Thomas Jefferson drafted The Declaration and substituted the 'unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness' for John Locke's; a 17th century philosopher and proponent of natural rights theory; 'life, liberty, and property'. This laid the foundation for a Constitutional rift, because it didn't reaffirm property rights in slaves, which eventually ruptured the Union into civil war. Jefferson also introduced human rights with the phtases 'all men are crteated equal' and 'they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights' and 'among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness'. July 4, 1776, Congress issued The Declaration of Independence, which condemned British tyranny and proposed a union of states.
Articles of Confederation -The legal entity of The United States was created under The Articles, the 1st Constitution of The United States and in March 1781, it took effect.
TheUnited States Constitution-Concessions to the slaveholding South including the continuance of the slave trade, a fugitive slave clause, and slaves counted as three-fifths of a person for proportional
representation eventually shattered The United States and caused The Civil War. Delegates signed The Constitution on September 17, 1787, and it was ratified on June 21. 1788.
