The Preamble to the United States Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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."
What Enlightenment idea is reflected in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?
Responses
1 answer
The Enlightenment idea reflected in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is the concept of popular sovereignty. The phrase "We the People" emphasizes that the power of the government comes from the consent and authority of the people. This idea was a central tenet of Enlightenment thinkers, who believed that political power should be derived from the people rather than monarchs or other forms of authoritarian rule.
1 answer