Bill of Rights (HIPP)

Bill of Rights HIPP by Autumn Kane

Purpose

Works Cited

Historical Context

Bill of Rights (First Ten Amendments to the American Constitution)

The purpose of the Bill of Rights was...

1) To satisfy those states who refused to ratify the Constitution without one.

2) To outline the American people's rights.

3) To restrict the power of the federal government.

The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison and ratified December 15, 1789. Written in response to several states concerns about constitutional protection for personal liberties, the Bill of Rights restricts the government's power. Without the addition of a Bill of Rights, states like New York and Virginia may not have ratified the Constitution. Some of the articles, like Article 3, directly reflect concerns remaining from the American Revolution (quartering of soldiers). Others, like Article 8, model after the English Bill of Rights of 1689 (prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments and excessive bail and fines). The Bill of Rights was greatly influenced by George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776.

"Bill of Rights - Bill of Rights Institute." Bill of Rights Institute.

N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.

Bill of Rights. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Bill of Rights." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.

I'm Just a Bill. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.

Schoolhouse Rock Constitution. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.

The American Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the American Constitution. It sets restrictions on governmental power.

Technically this little guy isn't the Bill of Rights, but his name is "Bill" so we'll let it slide.

Intended Audience

Summary of Bill of Rights

Point of View

Fun Fact: No where in the First Amendment, Bill of Rights, or entire Constitution is the "wall of separation between church and state" mentioned! As far as the Constitution is concerned, it simply does not exist. You can look for it; you won't find it!

The Bill of Rights was directly intended for the states that refused to ratify the Constitution without one. The Bill of Rights, however, was really written for all the American people. It directly outlines rights given to the people that cannot be infringed upon by the government. The Bill of Rights was also written for leaders in the federal government, because (as previously mentioned) the Bill of Rights restricts their powers as national leaders.

Article One: Freedom to practice religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right of the people to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government.

Article Two: Right to bear arms.

Article Three: No soldiers can be quartered in a home in a time of peace or time of war without the owner's consent and must be in a lawful manner.

Article Four: The right to be secure in your persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures (searches and seizures must be done with warrants).

Article Five: You have the right to a grand jury for capital crimes, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination, a fair trial, and an assurance that the government won't take private property without paying market value.

Article Six: Accused persons have the right to a quick, public trial, an impartial jury of the district where the crime was committed, to be informed of the accusation against them, to know the witnesses against them, and to have witnesses and lawyers in their defense.

Article Seven: Right to a trial by jury.

Article Eight: Protection against cruel and unusual punishments and excessive bail and fines.

Article Nine: Just because certain rights are not explicitly outlined in the Constitution does not mean that they don't exist.

Article Ten: Any powers not given to the United States by the Constitution and not prohibited by it are reserved to the States or people.

The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison, a Federalist favor of ratifying the Constitution. It was a document that indirectly pushed for the ratification of the Constitution while directly pushing for the limitation of the federal government. The Founding Fathers understood now, from the mess that was the Articles of Confederation, that too little federal government is disastrous, but they also remembered the tyranny of George III and wished to avoid that at all costs. The Bill of Rights provides a long lasting balance between the two. It grants citizens rights while allowing the federal government to execute essential tasks, like taxation. The states wanted a Bill of Rights because many of their own constitutions already included one, and the Bill of Rights was seen as important to the American people because they remembered how the British had violated their rights as Englishmen and did not want their new government to violate their rights as Americans.