Rights and Responsibilities
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Section 1: The Bill of Rights
The freedoms spelled out in the Bill of Rights—the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, and petition, and the right to a speedy and fair trial—are essential to our democratic system.
Reading Focus
• Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
• How does the First Amendment protect personal freedoms?
• What other rights does the Bill of Rights guarantee?
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The Main Idea
The Bill of Rights
• Americans wanted their rights written into the Constitution.
• Several states recommended that a bill of rights be drafted upon ratification of the Constitution.
• 1791—The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution.
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The First Amendment protects personal freedoms.
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of petition
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Other rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights include:
• Second—Right to bear arms
• Fourth—Protection from unreasonable search and seizure of private property
• Fifth—Right to a fair trial and due process of law; right to own property
• Sixth—Right of the accused to a have a lawyer
• Eighth—Forbids cruel and unusual punishment
• Ninth—States that not all rights are listed in the Constitution
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Question: What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
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Question: What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
• Separation of church and state
• The inclusion of rights not specifically listed in the Constitution
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of petition
• Freedom of assembly
• No quartering of soldiers
• The right to bear arms
• Protection for those accused
• Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
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Section 2: Guaranteeing Other Rights
Other amendments to the Constitution expanded the civil rights of Americans.
Reading Focus
• How did the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments extend civil rights?
• Which amendments extended Americans' voting rights?
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The Main Idea
Civil Rights
• The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery in the United States in1865.
• The Fourteenth Amendment granted full citizenship to African Americans in 1868 and protected citizens against unfair actions by state governments.
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Voting Rights
• 1870 – The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to African American men.
• 1913 – The Seventeenth Amendment gave voters power to elect their senators.
• 1920 – The Nineteenth Amendment granted suffrage to women.
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Voting Rights (continued)
• 1961 – The Twenty-third Amendment gave citizens of Washington, D.C., the right to vote for president and vice president.
• 1964 – The Twenty-fourth Amendment forbade poll taxes.
• 1971 – The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
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Question: Which amendments extended Americans' voting rights?
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Question: Which amendments extended Americans' voting rights?
Amendments that Extended Voting Rights
• Fifteenth Amendment
• Seventeenth Amendment
• Nineteenth Amendment
• Twenty-third Amendment
• Twenty-fourth Amendment
• Twenty-sixth Amendment
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Section 3: Citizens' Duties and Responsibilities
Along with the rights and freedoms of U.S. citizenship come important duties and responsibilities.
Reading Focus
• What are the duties of citizenship?
• What are the responsibilities of citizenship?
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The Main Idea
Duties of citizenship:
• Obeying the law
• Attending school
• Paying taxes
• Taking part in government
• Appearing in court
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Responsibilities of Citizenship
• Voting
• Being informed
• Serving in the armed forces
• Helping your community
• Respecting and protecting others' rights
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Question: What are the responsibilities of citizenship?
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Question: What are the responsibilities of citizenship?
Responsibilities of Citizenship
• voting
• respecting others' rights
• being informed
• helping the community
• taking part in government
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• Which amendments focus on the rights of people accused of crimes? What rights do these amendments guarantee?
• Why was the Ninth Amendment included in the Bill of Rights?
• How did the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments extend the civil rights of Americans?
• How have voting rights been expanded through constitutional amendments?
• What are the duties of citizenship?
• What are the responsibilities of citizenship?
Chapter 4 Wrap-Up
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Wrap-Up