Grade 7 Humanities: Week of 11/19/2018 (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Freedom)

By , 11/19/2018

Dear Families,

The first ten amendments to The Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. This “add-on” was written by James Madison and it listed specific prohibitions on governmental power. The Bill of Rights was influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, The Magna Carta (Yes, England again!) and several other documents.

One of the many points of contention between Federalists and Anti-Federalists  was the original Constitution’s omission of a bill of rights that would place specific limits on central government. The Federalists believed that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government. Anti-Federalists argued that a bill of rights was necessary to ensure individual liberties.

Madison altered the Constitution’s text to include the safeguards for personal liberties, but several other representatives from The Congress claimed that they had no authority to change the wording in the Constitution. As a result, Madison’s edits were presented as a list of amendments that would follow Article VII of The Constitution. Of the original 17 amendments, 10 made it to final ratification on December 15, 1791.

With perhaps the exception of The Second Amendment, we continue to benefit from these rights every day.

Yours,

Ms. Sacilotto

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The Bill of Rights – Full Text (in case you need a refresher! 😉 )

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

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After interpreting, analyzing, and discussing The Bill of Rights, we drafted our essays . . .

 

“A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.”

— Thomas Jefferson