Agenda 1.  Turn in Amendment Paragraphs

(Please make sure your organizer is stapled on the back.)

2.  The Bill of Rights

Homework 1.  Make sure you have HEADPHONES

for tomorrow. 2.  Current Events for Group #4 and

PEER RESPONSE #1 Due TOMORROW, March 6th.

Thursday, March 5th 7B Social Studies

Inquiry: What is the Bill of Rights? How did it come about? What rights does it guarantee individuals in the United States? Goal: Students will be able to read, understand, and describe the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the Constitution).   (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1 and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2)

It’s time to turn in your Article V paragraphs!

1.  Please make sure that your name is on your paragraph.

2.  Please staple your organizer to the paragraph before you turn it in.

3.  Please see me at the end of class if you are not turning in your paragraph to arrange for Homework Assistance, if necessary.

Ratification of the Constitution, Federalists versus Anti-Federalists,

and The Bill of Rights

Ratification of the Constitution: Background

•  At the Constitutional Convention, representatives from each state (except Rhode Island) met to craft a plan of government to replace the weak Articles of Confederation.

•  Most delegates wanted a strong national government, at least one strong enough to levy taxes and raise an army.

•  However, many delegates were concerned about making the central government too strong; they did not want the central government to completely overrule state governments or infringe on individuals’ rights.

•  After much debate, the Constitution was finally signed in September 1787. It was then sent to the states to be approved.

But the story didn’t end there…

Ratification of the Constitution: Requirements

•  Before the Constitution could become the law of the land in the United States, it would need to be ratified by two-thirds of the states or nine out of the thirteen original states.

•  The first two major political parties of the United States, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, would need to compromise in order to get the Constitution ratified. The Bill of Rights was the heart of that compromise.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Federalists •  Favored ratification. Wanted a strong national government. •  The Federalists supported the Constitution as it was. After all, it

was decided upon by representatives from each state. •  The Federalists pointed out that the Constitution had protections

against tyranny or abuse of power: ! Separation of power between the state and federal governments

(federalism) ! Separation of power between the three branches of government !  Checks and balances between the three branches of government !  Balance between equal and proportional representation to ensure

that small states would have a say in government •  The Federalists wrote the “Federalist Papers” to encourage states

to approve the Constitution.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists •  Opposed ratification and wanted a weak national government.

Feared that a strong national government would threaten people’s rights.

•  They argued that states should have more power because they were closer to the people. What could a national government possibly know about state and city problems?

•  Also, the Anti-Federalists were very unhappy that there was no Bill of Rights – nothing to guarantee individual freedoms and rights.

•  Those opposed set out to campaign against the Constitution, arguing that it would create a government with so much power, it would just be like having a king again.

How Did They Compromise? •  Both sides (the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists)

tried to convince people their side was correct in essays printed in newspapers (primarily in New York and Virginia).

•  After great debate, all thirteen states finally ratified the Constitution. Several states ratified the Constitution only on the condition that a Bill of Rights protecting individuals from a possibly abusive government would be added to the Constitution as soon as possible.

•  The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was ratified and became part of the Constitution in 1791, three years after the Constitution became effective.

First Amendment

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition.

This means that we all have the following rights: •  to have a government that does not promote one

religion over others (Establishment Clause) •  to practice any religion freely (Free Exercise Clause) •  to free speech •  to assemble (meet) •  to address the government (petition) •  to publish newspapers, TV, radio, Internet (press)

Freedom of Religion •  “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment

of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there of” •  Two Separate Guarantees:

! Establishment Clause – the government cannot establish a state religion or promote a religion (separation of church and state)

! Free Exercise Clause – the government cannot outlaw a religion

Establishment  Clause  -‐  The  Government  Can                  Cannot  

•  Teach  about  religions  in  school  

•  Allow  voluntary  prayer    •  Transport  students  to  a  religious  school  

•  Read  Bible  for  culture  or  literary  content  

 

•  Set  a  state  religion    •  Require  students  to  pray  

 

Free  Exercise  —  A  Person  Can                        Cannot  

•  Choose  whatever  religion  he  or  she  wants  to  pracEce  

•  Lead  a  prayer    •  Ask  quesEons  about  religions    

 

•  Break  the  law  and  claim  a  religious  belief  required  you  to  do  so  

•  Raise  children  without  any  educaEon  (can  be  homeschooled)  

•  Deprive  children  of  basic  needs  

Freedom  of  Speech  

•  “Congress  shall  make  no  laws  .  .  .    abridging  the  freedom  of  speech”  

 

Free  Speech  –  An  Individual    Can            Cannot  

•  Say  any  poliEcal  belief  •  Protest  against  the  

government  •  Say  things  about  someone  

that  are  true  •  Burn  the  flag  •  Say  offensive  slogans,  to  a  

degree  •  Free  speech  means  

someone  might  say  something  you  disagree  with  

•  Threaten  to  blow  up  airplanes,  schools  or  the  president  

•  Incite  people  to  commit  violence    

•  Use  disrespecRul,  vulgar  language  in  schools  

•  Engage  in  hate  crimes  

Freedom  of  the  Press  

•  Congress  shall  make  no  law    .  .  .  abridging  .  .  .  the  freedom  of  the  press.”  

Freedom  of  the  Press  –  The  Press  Can              Cannot  

•  Print  any  poliEcal  posiEon  

•  Make  fun  of  people,  especially  poliEcians  

•  Expose  wrongs  by  the  government  

•  Say  things  you  might  not  agree  with  

•  Libel  –  intenEonally  injure  a  person’s  reputaEon  by  false  facts  

Freedom  of  Assembly  •  Congress  shall  make  no  law  .  .  .  Abridging  .  .  .  The  people  to  peaceably  assemble”  

Freedom  of  Assembly  —  An  Individual  Can                Cannot  

•  Protest    •  Parade  (with  a  permit)  

•  Gang  members  can  congregate  in  public  

•  Protest  by  throwing  rocks  and  breaking  windows  

•  Assemble  on  private  land  against  the  owner’s  will  

•  Assemble  aVer  a  teen  curfew  

 

PeEEon  the  Government  “Congress  shall  make  no  law  .  .  .  Abridging  .  .  .  the  people.  .  .  to  peEEon  the  government  for  a  redress  of  grievances”  

•  You  can  communicate  with  government  representaEves  and  ask  for  changes  

•  You  may  sue  the  government  for  wrongs  

•  You  cannot  be  punished  for  exposing  wrongs  by  the  government