Indiana : Crossroads and the Creator

On this day in 1816, Indiana, the Hoosier state, becomes the nineteenth state in the Union.

First, here is the Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Indiana:

“TO THE END, that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated; WE, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to ALMIGHTY GOD for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution.”

Then, we see that the first part of the Constitution of the “Crossroads of America,” the Indiana state motto, contains a considerable amount of crossover with the Declaration of Independence:

“ARTICLE 1. Bill of Rights
Section 1. Inherent rights
Section 1. WE DECLARE, That all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”

Lastly, here is the nearly identical text from the Declaration of Independence
“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.”