The Preamble of the United States Constitution

The Preamble to the United States Constitution went through at least two drafts. The first draft and the final draft are included here.

The Preamble (Version A) 

This is the Preamble to an early version of the Constitution that was later rejected. It was written in the summer of 1787. 

We the People of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity. 

The Preamble (Version B) 

This is the final text of the Preamble to the Constitution. It was finalized in September 1787. The Preamble appears before the main text of the Constitution. The Constitution lays out the three-part system of government of the United States. It replaced an earlier governing document called the Articles of Confederation. 

We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.