If you’re a patriotic American, I don’t think there’s a better way to show your love and support for the land of the free & love, than a “we the people” tattoo. It’s a simple way to honor our ancestors who fought for the title America is best known for: the land of the free.
and despite the simplicity and length (or lack thereof) of the phrase “we the people”, it is one of the most powerful patriotic statements in existence.
and how it came to be is an interesting story.
In this article, I’ve compiled 25 of the most creative, interesting, and detailed “we the people” tattoos out there. don’t hesitate to take a look!
get the tattoo
if you’re okay with a text tattoo rather than a more illustrative or metaphorical one, then honestly there’s little else that can compete with a “we the people” tattoo in terms of patriotism.
we the people written in front of vivid blue, white and red, by sam corser (@2ndstreettattoo on instagram).
And if you’re a patriot yourself, perhaps you should consider mixing in other patriotic symbols to personalize your design. if you look at some of the designs in this collection, you will see how the different elements are used in harmony with each other. These elements are rarely used on their own because they complement each other so well.
a brilliant illustration showing the skull of an american revolutionary war soldier with a black tricorn hat next to an antique flintlock pistol, by john black (@johnblacktat2 on instagram).
You’ll notice that many of the pieces you’ll see here are located on the forearm. and it’s probably the best place to put a design like this. since it is usually oriented horizontally, the length of the forearm makes it an appropriate canvas to place the design on. it is easily seen and the risk of distortion (due to weight shift) is minimal. In addition to the base design, the forearm also provides enough space to incorporate other complementary elements.
a highly detailed tattoo of we the people, in black and grey, with a fierce eyed bald eagle, by ryan mullins (@ryanmullinsart on instagram).
but the forearm is not the only place you can put this design. The good thing about this is that you can put it pretty much anywhere. you can stretch it out and place it across your chest, or you can choose to shrink it to fit on your wrist or ankle. the freedom (pun intended) that a layout like this gives you in terms of placement is amazing. and the story associated with it ensures that its meaning is never lost.
pen and ink, by al ferrante (@legion1978 on instagram).
Cliché symbols such as the Stars and Stripes, Bald Eagle, and Liberty Bell are used to complement the “we the people” image that is often the focal point of most pieces. and when used together, the combination of these elements produces quite an amazing effect. And by playing around with different symbols and placements, you can make a tattoo that is unique just to you.
featuring a proud minuteman who fought for our freedom, by cody young (@codyyoungtattooer on instagram).
but why exactly are these designs based on “we the people” and not the other way around? What makes these three words so important to the American people?
the first three words of the preamble to the united states constitution, in the original font, simple but effective, by brian c. (@btatu on instagram).
We the People: A Brief History Lesson
If we’re going to answer these questions, we’re going to have to step back and revisit some of America’s history, particularly during the Revolutionary War.
in the original font, on the upper arm, with the stars and stripes, by matthew jackson (@mattjacksontattoos on instagram).
After 13 long years of blood, sweat, and tears, caused by nearly two centuries of hostility and oppression, the American Constitution was finally ratified on the fateful day of June 21, 1788.
introducing the statue of liberty, by come (@man_made_tattoos on instagram).
It was a momentous event. but it would never have happened without the courage and initiative of the founding fathers. Before the Constitution was amended, the United States of America, ironically, was nowhere near united. because of the defective legislation of the articles of confederation, the people were in constant rebellion, and each state acted on its own account, paying no attention to the union. not only was there separation between the people, there was also separation between the states, something the articles of confederation were intended to put an end to.
a brightly colored calf design, by tiffany gainey (@abitatattoo on instagram).
all this changed when the framers finally wrote the united states constitution. at the last moment before it was passed, gouverneur morris decided to write the preamble to the united states constitution, and it was because of this split-second decision that the words “we the people” were given to all Americans.
with 1776, the year of the declaration of independence, on the inside of the bicep, by joe davila (@jdavilatattooer59 on instagram).
In the preamble to the United States Constitution, “we the people” are the first three words you’ll see, written in pen and ink. and today, it’s a strong statement that reflects how the united states of america was founded by the people for the people.
featuring the liberty bell and the second part of the second amendment, by brickhouse tattoo studio (@brickhouse_tattoos on instagram).
In retrospect, it was probably an insignificant detail, especially since the preamble was simply an afterthought, never discussed or voted on. in fact, the preamble has no legal meaning. it simply reflected the vision and intentions of the founding fathers in writing the constitution.
nice black and gray ink with two muskets, the main weapon of the americans during the revolutionary war, by chris (@thetattoostudiokilleen on instagram).
But unbeknownst to Sir Morris, the first three words would become one of the most iconic expressions of patriotism known to the American people, and one of the most powerful tattoo designs an American could have.
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for god and country, by maygan conley (@tattertot_may on instagram).
and although this story ended with such a nice ending, it could have gone much worse. Circumstances back then were dire, and it never would have happened if our brave ancestors hadn’t taken the lead. The new United States Constitution was the seed that made it possible for America to become the greatest country in the world. But the reason this tattoo design resonates so much is because these three words meant the resolution of hundreds of years of hardship and sadness.
1776, the year of the declaration of independence, written in red, the color of revolution, by matthew isaacs (@matt_tatt on instagram).
That’s why it’s important to also take into account the difficulties along the way. one of the most historic events that occurred on the way to making the new constitution possible was the shays rebellion. it was one of the main catalysts that forced the ruling class to revise the existing constitution, the articles of confederation, which were the cause of much of the unrest at the time.
the iconic liberty bell in front of the american flag and a bald eagle, by haylee (@artbycomet on instagram).
daniel shays was a veteran, and one of the reasons that prompted him to start the rebellion was to return to western pennsylvania from the revolutionary war to return to his farming life, only to be taken to court for unpaid debts while he he was fighting the war.
The stars and stripes go perfectly with this bald eagle’s noble demeanor, by gina sherry (@studio69tattoo on instagram).
but since he was not paid anything for his service, there was no reasonable way he could repay these debts. when he discovered that other veterans and farmers were in the same situation, they applied for debt relief. but because the legislature was so out of touch with the people, all proposals for debt relief were rejected. The worst part was that the law couldn’t enforce his rights.
This woman is American inside and out! by blackbird tattoo co. (@blackbirdtattooco on instagram).
The statutes of the confederation were so poorly written that, although it was intended to unite the thirteen American colonies, it probably gave them more reason to conduct their affairs separately. each state maintained its own sovereignty, there was no unity.
Look at how extremely detailed the fabric is on that American flag, by angel reynosa (@angel.reynosa on instagram).
There was no monetary system and they couldn’t tax people effectively, so there were no funds to allocate to major expenses like the military. in addition to this, there was no strong central government. there was a notable absence of a strong leader who could make important decisions. And because the government was so ineffective, the people had no choice but to rebel.
a different Old English font than usual, in bold red, white and blue, so chavez (@loker15 on instagram).
shays rebellion exposed the american people that the articles of confederation would not be enough to keep the people happy. they needed a stronger government that would protect the rights and interests of the people.
another awesome forearm design, by inkaddictiontherapy (@inkaddictiontherapy on instagram).
but in the end, shay’s rebellion failed. The opposing government paid a private army to put down Shay’s rebellion so that his debts would still be paid. Daniel Shay was arrested and then pardoned a few years later.
vivid forearm tattoo by mike (@iron_mike_tattoos on instagram).
but the reason shay’s rebellion matters so much, despite its failed outcome, was because it allowed americans to see the weaknesses of their current government. it was a wake up call. not particularly for commoners, but for the ruling class.
black and gray forearm tattoo by jenny junkyard james (@pigmentgypsy on instagram).
the answer they were looking for was federalism: a central government. and a strong leader at the head of that central government. by forming a stronger constitution, and thus a stronger union between the ruling class and the common people, they could prevent the country from falling into a perpetual state of anarchy. finally, on March 4, 1789, the new American constitution would be ratified, effectively replacing the articles of confederation.
a thoughtful look at us, the people who advocate for inclusion in the land of freedom, by mario romero (@r3hab_ink on instagram).
This new constitution was what really unified the American government and ordinary people. before the amendment, there was pure chaos and separation. but the people fought. and the people won.
vivid red, white and blue, by lost shawn (@currupt_noodles on instagram).
a pistol with the year 1775 engraved on its slide, the year the American Revolutionary War began, by good time fergus (@goodtimefergus on instagram).
conclusion
It’s no mystery why so many patriotic designs are based on these three powerful words. These three words not only marked the end of nearly two centuries of hardship, they recognized that this new America was made possible by the people.
