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
A All men and women are created equal.All men and women are created equal.
B The government's power comes from the people.The government's power comes from the people.
C A system of checks and balances is necessary.A system of checks and balances is necessary.
D Power should be divided among three branches.
B The government's power comes from the people.
The Enlightenment idea reflected in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is B: The government's power comes from the people.
The Enlightenment idea reflected in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is B - The government's power comes from the people.
To arrive at this answer, let's break down the Preamble and analyze each phrase:
"We the People of the United States": This phrase emphasizes that the power and authority of the government originate from the collective will of the people.
"in Order to form a more perfect Union": This phrase suggests a desire to create a stronger and more unified nation, highlighting the importance of the government's role in this endeavor.
"establish Justice": This phrase emphasizes the importance of a fair and just system within the government, ensuring that all individuals are treated equitably.
"insure domestic Tranquility": This phrase indicates the need for a peaceful and calm domestic environment, hinting at the role of the government in maintaining social order and stability.
"provide for the common defense": This phrase highlights the government's responsibility to safeguard the nation and its citizens from external threats.
"promote the general Welfare": This phrase emphasizes the government's commitment to advancing the well-being and prosperity of its citizens as a whole.
"secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity": This phrase underlines the government's role in protecting the individual freedoms and liberties of both the present generation and future generations.
"do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America": This phrase confirms the act of formally establishing the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, solidifying the government's authority and responsibilities.
Based on this analysis, it becomes clear that the Enlightenment idea reflected in the Preamble is that the government's power comes from the people. This idea aligns with the Enlightenment principle of popular sovereignty, which asserts that the ultimate source of political authority resides with the people.