What is the historical reason we have a Bill of Rights
DISCUSSION QUESTION
1. What is the historical reason we have a Bill of Rights? How did we get our Bill of Rights? What was going on in the country at the time?
2. Post an example of a current issue involving one of the Bill of Rights: tell us the who, what, when, where and how of the issue and tell us which of the Bill of Rights is involved in your example and why you picked this particular Bill of Rights.
3. Rewrite the Bill of Rights in your own words
MY RESPONSE:
Question #1
Historically, the bill of rights was designed with the intent of addressing the flaws evident in the constitution. Before the establishment of the bill of rights, the constitution clarified what the government could do and failed to comment on what the government should not do.
The bill of rights was also put in place to guarantee US citizens with the freedom of religion, speech, and press. This clarifies the meaning of the bill of rights based on the assertion by Thomas Jefferson wherein, specifically, he made it clear that the bill of rights entails what the people are eligible for against every régime in all countries (Rossum, 2018). The US got its bill of rights by engaging the foremost ten amendments into the constitution. These amendments listed certain exclusions on government power to, consequently, safeguard the constitution. At that time, the constitutional violations were common, and they could barely be challenged because individuals who were denied their rights majorly encompassed the members of the society who were unaware of their rights, and they could hardly afford a lawyer.
Question #2
The US bill of rights champions for freedom and equality among the US citizens, yet the issues affecting those people affiliated to minority groups like the LGBT groups are yet to be addressed. Currently, various LGBT issues based on the bill of rights are evident in the country, yet the government has been reluctant to address the concern. In mid-2019, the churches, along with the businesses, were restricted from serving the gay people, and this is something that has been reinforced by the religious freedom laws. In that year, Kim Davis, who served as the Kentucky county clerk, was restricted from accessing business and church services just because of his sexual orientation, wherein particularly he was gay. Reflecting on the bill of rights, this case can be classified under the first amendment, which presents some rights to protection. Ideally, it allows the citizens to share their ideas through speech as well as protect the right to religious practices and beliefs (Monk, 2018). It also restricts the government from establishing or favoring religion. I opted for this Bill of Rights because the LGBT community in the US seems to be underprivileged, yet the overall Bill of Rights advocates for equality and freedom.
Question #3
The Bill of Rights is composed of the first ten amendments integrated into the constitution of the US to guarantee essential rights and freedoms and rights to the citizens. It checks on state power while guaranteeing civil liberties. It was also added to encourage the states to approve the constitution. The Bill of Rights was designed with the intent of protecting the rights the native citizens believed they were theirs, and these rights are detailed below:
Freedom of speech, press, and assembly where even the uncommon expression is safeguarded from government censorship.
Freedom of religion where it guarantees it, citizen, with the right to practice one’s religion as well as free them from any stimulus from the government.
Equality before the law, the Bill of Rights guarantees the right to enjoy equal treatment before the law without considering the social status of a person.
RESPOND TO THESE STATEMENTS BELOW:DETAILED FACTS ONLY AND 200 WORDS OR LESS
STATEMENT 1
The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to grant United States citizens basic human and political rights. The main reason for the Revolutionary War was because people did not feel as if they had the right to life, liberty, and property. They were controlled by British rule with no say in politics. The first ten amendments were ratified in 1791. George Mason proposed during the creating of the constitution that a Bill of Rights should be added but others did not think it was necessary. Shortly after the ratification of the constitution, they realized a need for the Bill of Rights.
One of the biggest political controversies right now in the United States is gun laws. There has been an increase in mass shootings and gun violence in recent years and people are rethinking our second amendment. There is a spectrum of ideas about how to solve this issue. The Bill of Rights spells out in the second amendment that people have the right to keep and bear arms.
1. The first amendment guarantees freedom of religion which also means the government cannot establish a religion.
2. The second amendment is the right to own and use guns.
3. The third amendment states that no citizen has to house a soldier during times of peace and times of war. They have a right to deny housing to a soldier.’
4. The fourth amendment protects privacy and does not allow unreasonable searches of property. A warrant must be issued in order to search and seize.
5. The fifth amendment covers those convicted of a crime. It states that everyone has a right to a fair trial and a person can not be tried twice for the same crime. It also states that people cannot be imprisoned without the due process of law.
6. The sixth amendment is also relevant to those convicted of crimes. People have the right to a speedy trial and a fair jury.
7. The seventh amendment is the right to a jury trial
8. The eighth amendment protects people against heavy, unfair bail amounts and cruel punishment.
9. The ninth amendment states that people have other rights not stated in the Bill of RIghts
10. The tenth amendment realizes that the Federal government has the powers stated in the constitution while the rest is delegated to that states.
STATEMENT TWO;
In the summer of 1787, delegate from the 13 states convened in Philadelphia and drafted a blueprint for self-government, the Constitution of the United States.The Constitution was put in place to make sure there was a checks and balance system for the government.Unfortunately, there was nothing in place to protect the people and to provide them with civil liberties.That is how the Bill of Rights came to be.Federalists opposed the idea of the BOR on the grounds that it was unnecessary but the anti-federalists refused to support the Constitution without the BOR.The American people wanted strong guarantees that the new government would not trample upon their newly won freedoms of speech, press and religion, nor upon their right to be free from warrantless searches and seizures (ACLU, 2020).
A current issue involving the BOR that comes to mind addresses the Tenth Amendment- Reserved Powers.This amendment states that “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.”This emphasizes the belief that the federal government holds only those powers and responsibilities specifically discussed in the Constitution, and that all others are reserved to the individual states, and to the people (ACLU, 2020).The sitting President continuously violates this amendment by telling local governments what to do and how they should respond to the pandemic.While discussing whether he or the nation’s governors have the power to lift restrictions states put in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump declared at a news briefing, “When somebody’s president of the United States, the authority is total control” (Cummings, 2020).This is prime example that some people do not uphold the basic foundation this country was built on.
Tenth Amendment – “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.”
Tenth Amendment in my words – “All powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved explicitly for each state with no exception.”
SPEECH DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Post a speech given by a famous American who is connected with our government from sometime in U.S. History, that speaks to you. Tell us the who, why, where and when and give us the context of the speech-for example, what was going on at that time? Also provide a brief synopsis and a link to the speech.
Explain to us why you picked this speech and why it “speaks” to you.
DIRECTIONS
REPLY TO BOTH STATEMENTS BELOW. Your replies MUST contain an ADDITIONAL FACT about the speech you are responding to that the student did not include with their post. You will be graded down for not following directions.150 WORDS ARE LESS. FACTS NO OPINIONS.
STATEMENT ONE;
A Time for Choosing (aka “The Speech”) – Ronald Reagan
In the speech, he revealed his ideological motivation: “The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. The Speech reflects Reagan’s development of extraordinary communications skills, but also his transformation from liberal to conservative.
I chose this because: First, it is compact and beautifully written. Second, it addresses controversy head-on. Third, The Speech calls upon us to recognize American exceptionalism – that we have a very special place in history and are the bulwark to freedom in the world. Reagan asks us to look past ideological differences and to avoid name-calling. He says the choice is not between “left” and “right,” but only between “up” and “down.” “Up” he characterizes as maximum individual freedom consistent with law and order, whereas “down” means the “ant heap of totalitarianism.”
Accordingly, Reagan weighs in against the notion that government can solve all problems and still preserve individual liberties. There’s a note of urgency in The Speech, which applies today as well. “Already the hour is late. The Speech soars at the end in quintessential Reagan style: “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.
Reference: https://www.
STATEMENT TWO;
John F. Kennedy (JFK) was our 35th President, and very young. His Inaugural Speech was a fourteen minute one and had so much meaning to me.
John F. Kennedy was being sworn in on January 20, 1961. In his speech he spoke about coming together as a country, working together so that we could
progress and eliminate poverty. During this period in time the “Cold War” was going on, and in his closing statement “Ask not, what your country can do
for you, ask what you can do for your country!” Expressing the cooperation of the American people and added that with the blessing of GOD we could
make it a better world to live in.
I chose this speech, first of all because my dad was an illegal immigrant, when John F. Kennedy was in office. My dad was here working hard to have
a better life. Second, we are the people of the U.S and it is up to us to continue to live in Peace with others and cooperate with each other.
MY RESPONSE
The US is marked with various icons connected to the government that delivered great speeches in their time, and this can be attested by reflecting on US history. One of the icons entails Martin Luther King (MLK), who delivered a speech identified as I Have a Dream.
Link to the Speech: https://www.
I Have a Dream by MLK
I Have a Dream is an iconic speech delivered by MLK to millions of the US negros and white on 28th August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial based in Washington DC. He delivered this speech when the black Americans or, in other words, the negros suffered racial discrimination, which was embraced through inequality, injustices, and being deprived of their freedom and rights. The speech signifies the dreams along with the hopes of the US negros who had been deprived of their freedom and rights. Ironically, the US constitution and Independence Declaration had guaranteed justice, equal rights, and freedom to all citizens, yet they were not practiced in real life. In the speech, MLK encourages the negros to continue struggling to eventually ensure that peace, equality, and brotherhood are practiced in the US. Nevertheless, the struggle was meant to be peaceful.
This speech speaks to me as a woman of color. The speech reflects on the injustices, inequality, and deprived freedom the negros experienced in the past. Although there are still challenges people of color face today, His speech and protests made an impact on racial discrimination.
Answer preview What is the historical reason we have a Bill of Rights
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