The Bill of Rights Pt. 1

Word you must know…

•Amendment: a change made by correction, addition, or deletion

Federalists and Anti-Federalists•When the Constitution was being drafted, two factions

emerged with differing opinions on the new Constitution• Federalists: favored a strong central government

at the expense of states rights•Anti-Federalists: were suspicious of a large central

government that could potentially abuse basic freedoms

• In an attempt to appease the Anti-Federalists, 10 amendments that ensured basic freedoms were drafted and dubbed the “Bill of Rights”

The Bill of Rights• First 10 amendments to the Constitution that

guarantee basic rights that protect the individual•Ratified by the states in 1791•Guaranteed basic rights such as freedom of speech,

religion, the press, right to bear arms, and established laws that protect the accused•Heavily influenced by American experiences during

the War of Independence and the English Bill of Rights

First Amendment•“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”

Directions: Copy the text. Then underline and number the different rights you can identify.

Case Study: Are there limits to freedom of religion?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwBVcsWYJd8

•Should snake-handling churches be outlawed..?

Second and Third Amendment

• Second amendment provides the right to “bear arms”, which gives citizens the right to own weapons• Third Amendment restricts the quartering of soldiers

in private homes•Both of these amendments were influenced by

American experiences during the American Revolution•However, are there limits, especially for the second

amendment?

Case Study: Are there limits to the Second Amendment?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ror9v2LwHoY• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq045HrjY2g

•Should you be able to purchase any weapon you’d like?

Fourth and Fifth Amendment

• Fourth amendment protects citizens against unreasonable search and seizures and requires the use of warrants for arrests• Fifth amendment protects against double jeopardy, self-

incrimination, and guarantees rights of due process• Both of these amendments were also heavily influenced by

the American Revolution• The main critique of these two amendments is that it

overprotects criminals

Quiz yourself…

• 1. What is the Bill of Rights?• 2. Why was the Bill of Rights needed in order to ratify the

Constitution?• 3. What are some of the rights outlined in the 1st

amendment?• 4. What does the second amendment include?• 5. What does it mean when someone “pleads the fifth”?