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A Declaration of Rights, and a plea of government for the State of New Hampshire
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A Declaration of Rights, and a plea of government for the State of New Hampshire
695970 A Declaration of Rights, and a plea of government for the State of New Hampshire, 1779 (litho) by American School, (18th century); 38x31.5 cm; Gilder Lehrman Collection, New York, USA; (add.info.: Constitution for N.H. Printed by Zechariah Fowle. Evans 16386. Signed by John Langdon as President Pro Temp of the New Hampshire Legislature. The United States was the first modern nation to self-consciously design systems of government reflecting certain fundamental philosophical principles. After the country declared independence in 1776, many states drew up new constitutions that embodied republican ideals. A basic goal of the new state constitutions was to curb the kinds of abuses that provoked the Revolution. The British had lacked a written constitution; many Americans felt that a written constitution would be harder to violate. To keep state governments from abusing their power, the state constitutions included a bill of rights, which guaranteed certain elemental rights that government could not infringe, such as freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to trial by jury. The new state constitutions also curbed executive power. Two states - Georgia and Pennsylvania - eliminated the position of governor altogether. The other states prohibited governors from vetoing laws, dissolving the state legislature, and granting land, and sharply limited their power to appoint government officials. The new state constitutions gave the legislature the most governmental power precisely because legislative assemblies had actively resisted attempts by royal governors and the kings ministers to violate their rights. But because they feared giving too much power to any one governmental body, all the states except Georgia and Pennsylvania divided the state legislature into two branches. As a symbol that the new state constitutions reflected the sovereignty of the people, the documents were typically drafted by special constitutional conventions rather than by state legislatures. The constitutions were then submitted to the people for approval. ); eGilder Lehrman Institute of American History; American, out of copyright
Media ID 23228884
© Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History / Bridgeman Images
American History American Revolution Broadside Civil Rights Constitution Historical Document Republicanism Sheet State States The War For Independence
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases "A Declaration of Rights, and a plea of government for the State of New Hampshire" from 1779. Measuring 38x31.5 cm, this lithograph is part of the Gilder Lehrman Collection in New York, USA. During the American Revolution, as the United States declared independence in 1776, each state sought to establish new constitutions that embodied republican ideals and protected against abuses that had provoked the revolution. The absence of a written constitution in Britain inspired Americans to draft their own documents with fundamental philosophical principles at their core. To prevent abuse of power by state governments, these new constitutions included a bill of rights guaranteeing essential freedoms such as freedom of religion and speech. They also limited executive power by either eliminating or sharply restricting the role of governors. The legislative branch was granted significant governmental power due to its historical resistance against violations by royal governors. However, to avoid concentration of authority within one body, all states except Georgia and Pennsylvania divided their legislatures into two branches. Symbolizing popular sovereignty, these state constitutions were drafted by special constitutional conventions rather than traditional legislatures before being submitted for approval by the people themselves. This historic lithograph serves as a reminder that America was not only born out of revolution but also founded on principles aimed at safeguarding individual liberties and preventing tyranny within its own borders.
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