BASIC DOCUMENTS AFFECTING AMERICAN SOCIETY
             There are three basic documents which affect American society almost daily in day to day
             affairs. They are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Each
             The sentiments in favor of independence from England was growing in the American
             Colonies during the last days of 1775. The opening battles of the revolution, at Lexengton
             and Concord and at Bunker Hill, had already taken place when, in January 1776, Tom Paine
             published his pamphlet 'Common Sense'. The pamphlet was a violent attack on monarchy
             and on king George 111 and was a strong plea for an immediate declaration of indepen-
             dence. It sold more than one 100,000 copies within three months and led to a major increase
             The rights that Declaration cites, such as the right to life, are defined as natural rights given
             to man by God and not privileges granted by the government. The government is duty bound
             to protect and nurture these rights or else the people may overthrow it.
             Constitution of the United States is the supreme law and plan of the government. The Cons-
             titution was described the then British Prime Minister William Gladstone as 'the most
             wonderful work ever struck off at one time by the brain and purpose of man. The oldest
             written constitution still in use among the major nations, it has had great influence on
             constitutions later adopted by other countries.
             The principle of limited government, as enshrined in the Constitution, was applied in several
             ways. Devolution of power among the component States and the Federal government proved
             forerunner for such federal structures throughout the democratically elected governments in
             Many of the rights contained in the Bill of Rights were developed in England during the
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