We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the Rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. Protection from Enemies—Foreign and Domestic. The Founding Fathers who framed our Constitution in 1787 knew that individuals have certain unalienable rights—“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” as earlier expressed in the Declaration of Independence. These rights were God-given rights. Transcription: Page 3 for taking away our charters, abolishing our most important valuable laws [Dr. Franklin] & altering fundamentally the forms of our governments; for suspending our own legislatures & declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever; he has abdicated government here by declaring us out of his protection & urging war against us arbitrary government interference against citizens, opinions, and property. all enemies foreign and domestic. arbitrary government interference against citizens, opinions, and property. True or false: The Bill of Rights protects freedoms that are essential to the free and effective participation of individuals and groups in the larger community. For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to Declaration of Independence, 17761 IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, By statute, every “individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: ‘I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic The new government was tasked with protecting the country and its citizens against foreign invasion or domestic insurrection. The military was under civilian control and would protect Americans’ rights and liberties as well as the popular government they created against all enemies, foreign and domestic. According to the philosophy Thomas Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, what was the primary responsibility of government? a) To ensure domestic tranquility b) To maintain a stable economy c) To protect the natural rights of people d) To defend the nation against all enemies, domestic and foreign By Lieutenant Fleet Russell White, U.S. Navy When an officer swears to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” he is assuming the most formidable obligation he will ever encounter in his life. Thousands upon thousands of men and women have died to preserve for him the opportunity to take such an oath. – Admiral Arleigh Burke1 U According to the philosophy Thomas Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, what was the primary responsibility of government? A. To defend the nation against all enemies, domestic and foreign. B. To ensure domestic tranquility. C. To maintain a stable economy. *D. To protect the natural rights of people. Officers of the United States Air Force take the following oath: [4] I, (state your name), having been appointed a (rank) in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, Foreign and domestic, that I bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any Nearly every printed or manuscript edition of the Declaration of Independence has slight differences in punctuation, capitalization, and even wording. To find out more about the diverse textual tradition of the Declaration, check out our Which Version is This, and Why Does it Matter? resource. Protection from Enemies – Foreign and Domestic. The Founding Fathers who framed our Constitution in 1787 knew that individuals have certain unalienable rights – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,†as earlier expressed in the Declaration of Independence. These rights were God-given rights. I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties Where and if lawfully required, I further commit myself to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, either by military, noncombatant, or civilian service.
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