It has been said the founding fathers of this country took much inspiration from the Virginia Declaration of Rights in writing both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. I’d like to share some of the similar rights now found in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution or the Declaration of Independence which were originally found in the Virginia Declaration, written in 1776:

1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Article one of the Virginia Declaration is distinctly similar to the Declaration of Independence in that people are entitled first and foremost to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

Article two communicates as does the constitution that ultimate power of government is vested in its people.

3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation or community; of all the various modes and forms of government that is best, which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration; and that, whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

Article three of Virginia’s declaration explains that government is instituted for the common good and security of the state. It also outlines that citizens may alter their government if they find the established government proves inadequate for their governance.

9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Article nine, like the Bill of Rights, prohibits excessive or cruel and unusual punishment.

12. That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

As this article suggests, freedom of the press is indispensable to the public liberty and is an obvious precursor to the first amendment.

13. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.

A well-armed body of the people is the best defense against government tyranny. This article is an obvious precursor to the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

In my opinion, article fifteen expressly explains that liberty requires a firm adherence to justice and fundamental principles. In modern thought, this article expresses the importance of equality and due process of those under the law.

16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

Article sixteen is obviously a precursor to the first amendment freedom of religion. The article points out people may worship by their own conviction and conscience.

Link to the Virginia Declaration of Rights