The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are two of the most important documents in American history, but they serve different purposes and have key differences.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, is a statement of principles that announced the separation of the 13 American colonies from British rule. It lays out the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and states that governments exist to protect these rights and that the people have the right to change or abolish a government that fails to do so.
The US Constitution, adopted on September 17, 1787, is the supreme law of the land that establishes the framework of government and the principles of democracy. It lays out the structure of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and the system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. It also includes the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which protect individual rights and freedoms.
The primary goal of the Declaration of Independence is to declare the colonies' independence from British rule and assert the rights and freedoms of citizens. The primary goal of the US Constitution is to establish the framework of government and the principles of democracy, and to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.