<P> The Declaration was neglected in the years immediately following the American Revolution , having served its original purpose in announcing the independence of the United States . Early celebrations of Independence Day largely ignored the Declaration , as did early histories of the Revolution . The act of declaring independence was considered important , whereas the text announcing that act attracted little attention . The Declaration was rarely mentioned during the debates about the United States Constitution , and its language was not incorporated into that document . George Mason 's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights was more influential , and its language was echoed in state constitutions and state bills of rights more often than Jefferson 's words . `` In none of these documents '' , wrote Pauline Maier , `` is there any evidence whatsoever that the Declaration of Independence lived in men 's minds as a classic statement of American political principles . '' </P>
<P> The Declaration was neglected in the years immediately following the American Revolution , having served its original purpose in announcing the independence of the United States . Early celebrations of Independence Day largely ignored the Declaration , as did early histories of the Revolution . The act of declaring independence was considered important , whereas the text announcing that act attracted little attention . The Declaration was rarely mentioned during the debates about the United States Constitution , and its language was not incorporated into that document . George Mason 's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights was more influential , and its language was echoed in state constitutions and state bills of rights more often than Jefferson 's words . `` In none of these documents '' , wrote Pauline Maier , `` is there any evidence whatsoever that the Declaration of Independence lived in men 's minds as a classic statement of American political principles . '' </P>
what came first the constitution or the declaration of independence
what came first the constitution or the declaration of independence
The Declaration
The Declaration