We the People Tattoo Meaning and 145 Tattoos to Depict Your Patriotism

The We the People tattoo can stand for a lot of things - freedom, the power of the people, the fight for equality, patriotism, and more.

I am a huge American history buff. This is why We the People tattoos are some of my favorites to do - there is so much power and history behind these words. Not to mention, I love that my clients get creative with their We the People tattoo designs.

In this post, I will explain each We the People tattoo meaning and show you the We the People tattoos that can inspire your own.

What is the Meaning Behind the We the People Tattoo?

There are a few meanings behind the We the People tattoo design.

The Original Meaning of We the People

As you know, We the People are the first three words of the United States constitution. Although it may seem like just three words, there is a lot of meaning behind them.

These words were not chosen by accident. It was a deliberate decision to begin the constitution that way. Up until that point, the United States had been ruled by a king - a sole holder of power.

Most people were deeply unhappy with this. When power is consolidated, the temptation of tyranny or unjust ruling is great. So this is exactly what happened.

It all began with the Stamp Act of 1765.

Following a war fought alongside the French, the British Empire needed to recoup its losses. So, they decided to impose the Stamp Act. Not only were the people of the American colonies forced to buy goods from the British, but they also had to pay a tax on it.

This began the first of the riots and the Stamp Act was eventually abolished.

In 1767, the British Empire attempted to tax the people of the colonies again. In what was known as the Townshend Acts, the Brits tried to tax people on imports that they received from Britain.

This led to the boycotting of British products and eventually this law was rolled back as well. Before the Act was removed, the Brits sent troops into Boston which riled up the public.

The presence of the troops led to what was known as the Boston Massacre.

What started off as an argument between an apprentice wigmaker and the a British soldier soon escalated into a mob surrounding the soldiers. When the crowd began pelting things at the soldiers, they retaliated by throwing things into the crowd. This resulted in three people being killed.

While the British government removed the soldiers from Boston, they kept the tea tax in place. This tax was more than just about the high cost of tea. This consequences of this law limited who the Americans could trade with.

This led to the famous Boston Tea Party.

The Americans disguised themselves, snuck onto the British ships docked in the harbor, and dumped the tea in the river.

This resulted in the loss of capital for British parliament members. They, in turn, enforced strict laws in America as a result. It was a backlash from these laws that triggered the American revolution.

We the People is meant to remind people of the atrocities that a central government without oversight can commit. This is why, after the revolutionary war, the ruling parties wrote that power should be in the hands of the people.

This is why the US constitution begins with the words We the People. It reminds people that America stands for its people and that the people in power are at the behest of its citizens.

We the People Tattoo and Personal Power

A We the People tattoo design is all about the power of the people - or to narrow things down, the power that you contain within you.

It isn't just a group of people that can achieve something great, you can also achieve this by yourself. You simply have to remind yourself that you have this ability inside you.

Your We the People tattoo design can be a reminder of what you can do to reach the position or station in life you want. This is possible because your tattoo is proof that people have done this in the past.

We the People Tattoo and the Continuing Fight for Equality

The We the People was meant as a way to signify equality among all the people of America. The only problem is that when the constitution was written, only a small portion of the population had any real rights.

However, since then, We the People has been a phrase that has allowed people to continue pushing boundaries and fighting for all kinds of equality. This includes race, gender, sexuality, and more.

Due to this, the We the People tattoo design isn't just a symbol of how we are all equal. The We the People tattoo is also about how equality is continuing to evolve.

In this way, your We the People tattoo design can actually be a symbol of hope for the future. It can be a reminder that if people join together and continue to fight for one another, there are no limits to what you can achieve.

We the People Tattoo and Patriotism

One of the many reasons that people get a We the People tattoo design is because it is a symbol of patriotism. See, the United States constitution is physical evidence of America's independence.

However, it isn't just about the freedom that came along with the revolution. It is also about the people behind it. This wasn't a fight that was won by a government. It was won by average folk and brave forefathers who took a stand and took action.

This is something to be proud of which is why the We the People tattoo design is such a patriotic tattoo.

What's more, they are evidence of the ideas that govern the identity of America; the land of the free. We the People is a famous patriotic phrase that summarizes this and the wearer's pride at being a part of the great nation.

We the People Tattoo and Acceptance

One of the things that America is known for is being a melting pot of cultures. People from all over the world traveled great distances, across treacherous paths to get into the country. They have been doing so for hundreds of years.

America holds promise for many people. It is seen as the land of opportunity, where anyone can make a fortune.

This is precisely what a We the People tattoo design means. Contrary to popular belief, We the People doesn't just refer to American citizens of the states. Rather, it also includes resident aliens and people who have become naturalized after many years of living within the country.

So, to many people, the We the People tattoo is actually a sign of acceptance. If you are an immigrant, are the child of immigrants, or are simply happy to call America home, this is an excellent tattoo to get.

We the People Tattoo and the Evolution of You

We the People tattoo design is meant to be a reminder of the US constitution and what America stands for. While this is a revered document, even the Founding Fathers knew that it wasn't perfect. They knew that it would need to be revised as the world and people changed.

This is why they included a clause for amendments, including the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.

Your We the People tattoo design can be a reminder that you, too, are a work in progress. You should never settle for your current position in life. Instead, constantly try to improve yourself so that you can live up to your full potential.

This doesn't just mean trying to improve your station in life. Your We the People tattoo can be a reminder to keep improving as a person - to be kinder to others, and to fight for the justice and equality of those around you.

The Top We the People Tattoo Designs

Here are the best We the People tattoo ideas you can consider for your own ink:

Minimalistic We the People Tattoos

In reality, this famous patriotic phrase is more than enough as a tattoo design. So, if you want a minimalistic We the People tattoo, simply get the words tattooed. This is a rather popular forearm tattoo design.

In case you think this makes for a boring We the People tattoo, it's not! There are actually a lot of ways to make such a We the People tattoo fun.

For instance, you can choose to get it done in black or green ink. You can also get your We the People tattoo in any font you like. However, if you want a more authentic look, you can use the exact font that was used in the constitution.

It is a good idea to take a copy of the constitution to your tattoo artist so they know precisely what kind of font to use. Remember, regardless of which one you choose, your We the People tattoo will have the same meaning.

Check out these cool minimalistic We the People tattoos:

The American Flag and We the People Tattoos

The American flag is arguably one of the most iconic in the world - the stars and stripes are recognizable anywhere. So, getting a We the People tattoo along with the American flag makes for quite a patriotic tattoo.

If you have ever served or been a part of a government agency, this would be a reflection of the service to your country as well.

As an added benefit, the flag with the We the People tattoo makes for a really cool piece of ink. It is also another popular forearm tattoo.

If you like, you can get the flag done in color, with the We the People tattoo written underneath or on top. A black and grey tattoo is just as cool.

While you can have a simple flag as the backdrop, it would take your tattoo up a notch to make it look like the flag is rippling in the wind.

Here are the We the People tattoo designs you should check out as inspiration for your own body art:

The Bald Eagle and We the People Tattoos

Another notable symbol of the United States is the bald eagle. It is the national bird of America. Not only is this is a majestic bird but the fact that it can fly to such great heights makes it a symbol of freedom as well.

The bald eagle is a highly protected national bird - even its feathers can't be picked up without express permission from the government. So, if you are looking for an important and patriotic tattoo, you should certainly include a bald eagle in your We the People tattoo design!

You can choose to only have the bald eagle head on your tattoo. This can work well if you want a smaller tattoo.

On the other hand, if you don't mind larger patriotic tattoos, you can consider getting a full bodied bald eagle for your We the People tattoo design.

Here are the We the People tattoos for this design:

The Constitution and the We the People Tattoos

If you want to take your patriotic tattoo to the next level, consider including the actual constitution in your We the People tattoo design.

It doesn't make much sense to include the entire document in your We the People tattoo design. You can choose to include parts of it.

Once again, you can use absolutely any font as it will have the same meaning. Using the exact font, an old fashioned script, is the best way to go for your We the People tattoo design.

Here are some We are the People tattoos to make this work.

Patriotic Elements and the We the People Tattoos

Do you want the ultimate patriotic tattoo? Consider adding various American elements to your We the People tattoo design.

So, what can you include in your We the People tattoo design?

You can include In God We Trust - the combined seven words can make for a powerful statement. Or, the actual constitution along with the Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty. A full-bodied bald eagle, a gun symbolizing the right to bear arms, and more.

Just keep in mind that this kind of We the People tattoo involves more complex and larger patriotic tattoos, especially if it includes elements like the Liberty Bell. As a result, you need an experienced tattoo artist to work on it.

Check out the We the People tattoos that you can use as inspiration:

Now that you know the meaning of the We the People tattoo, take your pick from these amazing We the People tattoo designs.