The Bill of Rights Essay -- American History

Bill of Rights We live in the 21st century, where most Americans mind their own business but take for granted our God given rights. Not only God given rights but also those established by our founding forefathers. This paper will illustrate and depict the importance of the original problems faced when adopting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It will discuss the importance of the first amendment, the due process of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and the 8th amendments. Last but not least the importance of what is known as the â€Å"second Bill of Rights† (14th amendment). What problems with the original document motivated the adoption of the Bill of Rights? Many felt the Constitution was strongly focused on the power and authority the central government would have over the states and the people. Such supporter was Thomas Jefferson, who said, â€Å"bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on the earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse.† Thomas Jefferson December 20, 1787 (American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU], 2002). The Constitution was set up with a system of checks and balances between the three branches of government. For its time it was remarkable but was flawed in expressing what it could do, but nowhere did it say what it could not. This was the great argument by the Anti-Federalist. Second, the Anti-Federalist would only support the Constitution if Congress was to include the proposed Bill of Rights. This would ensure the unalienable rights would be protected. Federalist No.84 says. â€Å"In the course of the foregoing review of the Constitution, I have taken notice of, and endeavored to answer most of the objections which have appeared against it. There, however, remai... ...brief-history Coates, R. E. (1995-99). Freedom of the Press . Retrieved November 12, 2010, from http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1600.htm Freedom of assembly and association. (N.D.). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=406 Hamilton, A. (n.d.). Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered. Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fed_84.html Morse v. Frederick. (2007). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2006/2006_06_278 Patterson, T. E. (2009,2008,2005,2003,2001,1999,1997,1993,1990). The American Democracy (9th ed.). [Adobe reader]. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetdataid=d779f52a-1e20-4dad-a9af-b169cc8fe798&assetmetaid=972de29b-d180-4689-8f49-21b4f77c72a3