Did you know…?
The United States Constitution isn’t perfect—grammatically speaking.
For handwritten documents, both the original articles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights have surprisingly few mistakes—fewer than modern readers may think. There are several words that may seem to be spelled wrong, but are in actuality the way they were spelled in eighteenth-century America—for example, defence (instead of defense) and chuse (instead of choose). There are others which were spelled in the British manner, such as honour, controul, and labor. The most glaring “error” sits right above the list of signatories—Pennsylvania is spelled with one N (Pensylvania). However, here again, it was common to spell the state’s name with one N at that time. In fact, the Liberty Bell is inscribed with the word Pensylvania.
There is, however, one error, that cannot be blamed on the times; it is one that plagues people to this day. It appears in Article 1, Section 10, which reads:
“No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws.”
(it’s should, of course, be its.)
There is one other glitch that actually has far more serious implications. In the Takings Clause (eminent domain) section of the Fifth Amendment, is a mark which completely changes the meaning of the sentence. The section reads:
“…nor shall private property be taken for public use[,] without just compensation.”
Some say it is a comma, but because it doesn’t appear as other commas in the document, others have deemed it a smudge or errant pen mark. If the mark is indeed a comma, the phrase would give the government a lot more legal wiggle room when it comes to confiscating personal property!
Did you also know…?
- United States History
- If it weren’t for Navajo Indians, the United States would have lost the battle at Iwo Jima.
- Before 1883, there were 8,000 times zones in the United States.
- The first fatality of the Civil War was an accident.
- Many delegates did not sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th.
- If Benjamin Franklin had his way, our national bird would be the turkey.
- The Liberty Bell was never rung on July 4, 1776.
- The correct folding of the American flag 13 times does not symbolize the 13 colonies.
- Scopes never committed the crime that led to the Scopes Monkey Trial.
- After the doomed Apollo 13 landed, Houston had another—hilarious—problem.
- The United States Constitution isn’t perfect—grammatically speaking.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” was improvised.
- The United States once included a state named Franklin.
- On August 4, 1922, every phone in North America went silent.
- “The Star-Spangled Banner” was originally a British drinking song.
- The shortest U.S. Presidential term was 1 day.
- The New York Stock Exchange began in a coffee shop.
- There was once a 5-cent bill.
- President Roosevelt’s safety during World War II was due to Al Capone.
- Puff the Magic Dragon was a war hero