1
Contents
Important Documents ............................................................................................................................ 3
King John and the Magna Carta .......................................................................................................... 3
Mayflower Compact ............................................................................................................................... 5
The House of Burgesses....................................................................................................................... 8
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut ................................................................................................... 9
The Declaration of Independence ..................................................................................................... 18
The Declaration of Independence Full text ...................................................................................... 20
Articles of Confederation ..................................................................................................................... 23
English Bill of Rights ............................................................................................................................ 25
The Federalists Papers ....................................................................................................................... 28
The Constitution ................................................................................................................................... 33
The Bill of Rights .................................................................................................................................. 35
2
Important Documents
King John and the Magna Carta
In 1215, King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta stating that the king was not
above the law of the land and protecting the rights of the people. Today, the Magna Carta is
considered one of the most important documents in the history of democracy.
Background
John became king in 1199 when his brother,
Richard the Lionheart, died without any
children. John had a bad temper and could be
very cruel. He was not liked by the English
Barons.
John also had to deal with a lot of issues while
he was king. He was constantly at war with
France. To fight this war he placed heavy
taxes on the Barons of England. He also
angered the Pope and was excommunicated
from the church.
The Barons Rebel
By 1215, the barons of northern England had
had enough of John's high taxes. They
decided to rebel. Led by Baron Robert
Fitzwalter, they marched on London calling
themselves the "army of God". After taking
London, John agreed to negotiate with them.
Signing the Magna Carta
King John met the barons on June 15, 1215 at Runnymede, a neutral site just west of London.
Here the barons demanded that King John sign a document called the Magna Carta
guaranteeing them certain rights. By signing the document, King John agreed to do his duty as
King of England, upholding the law and running a fair government. In return, the barons agreed
to stand down and surrender London.
Civil War
It turns out that neither side had any intention of following the agreement. Not long after signing,
King John attempted to nullify the agreement. He even had the Pope declare the document
3
"illegal and unjust". At the same time, the barons didn't surrender London.
Soon the country of England was facing civil war. The barons, led by Robert Fitzwalter, were
supported by French troops. For a year the barons fought King John in what is called the First
Barons' War. However, King John died in 1216, putting a quick end to the war.
Details of the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was not a short document. There were actually 63 clauses in the document
outlining various laws that the barons wanted the King to enforce. Some of the rights these
clauses promised included:






Protection of church rights
Access to swift justice
No new taxes without the Barons' agreement
Limitations on feudal payments
Protection from illegal imprisonment
A council of 25 Barons who would insure that King John followed the laws
Legacy
Although King John did not follow the agreement, the ideas put forth in the Magna Carta
became lasting principles of liberty to the English. Three of the clauses are still in force as
English law including the freedom of the English Church, the "ancient liberties" of the City of
London, and the right to due process.
The ideas of the Magna Carta also influenced the constitutions and development of other
countries. The American colonists used the rights guaranteed in the document as a reason to
rebel and form their own country. Many of these rights are written into the United States
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Interesting Facts about the Magna Carta





Magna Carta is Latin for Great Charter. The document itself was originally written in
Latin.
King John is often portrayed as the villain in the story of Robin Hood.
The council of 25 barons that the Magna Carta formed to watch over the king eventually
became the Parliament of England.
Archbishop Stephen Langton helped to negotiate the agreement between the two sides.
He is also credited with dividing the Bible up into the modern system of chapters used
today.
The Magna Carta was influenced by the Charter of Liberties signed by King Henry I in
1100.
4
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact, thought to be one of the forerunners of the Constitution, was
signed on November 11, 1620, by 41 men aboard the Mayflower, the ship that had
brought the Pilgrims to America.
The ship had set sail from England with Virginia as its destination, but weather
conditions forced the ship to land farther north, in what is now Provincetown Harbor,
near Cape Cod. Because of this, and because they were no longer governed by the
contract they had signed with the colony's investors, some aboard voiced their intention
to abandon the group and set out on their own. Hearing such "mutinous speeches," as
he called them, William Brewster organized the drafting of a document to describe a
sort of self-government, under which the settlers would agree to live and work together
for mutual survival.
The result was a framework for self-government, in which the settlers agreed to form a
"body politic" that would name leaders by majority vote, in the same way that they had
done in their church congregations in England and Holland.
The document itself was approved by a majority of the men aboard the ship, and 41
male passengers (including longtime Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford)
signed their names, agreeing to adhere to its outline. (More than 100 people were
aboard the Mayflower, but not all were men or Pilgrims. Non-Pilgrims were referred to
as "strangers.")
The signers professed their allegiance to the English King, James I. So the Mayflower
Compact was not a blueprint for the Declaration of Independence. However, with its
5
basis in the idea of a social contract associated with self-government ("just and equal
Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be
thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony"), the Mayflower
Compact was very much on the minds of English colonists settling in America in the
years to come.
The Mayflower Compact was not referred to as such until 1793. At the time, Bradford
referred to it as "an association and agreement." Subsequent historians referred to it
other ways, including as a "solemn contract." But it wasn't until Alden Bradford's A
Topographical Description of Duxborough, in the County of Plymouth that the term
Mayflower Compact appeared.
"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal
Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of
England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having
undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and
the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the
northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the
Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together
into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and
Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute,
and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and
Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the
General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and
obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at
Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King
James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftyfourth. Anno Domini, 1620."
6
John Alden
Isaac Allerton
John Allerton
John Billington
William Bradford
William Brewster
Richard Britteridge
Peter Brown
John Carver
James Chilton
Richard Clarke
Francis Cooke
John Crackstone
Edward Doty
Francis Eaton
Thomas English
Moses Fletcher
Edward Fuller
Samuel Fuller
Richard Gardinar
John Goodman
Stephen Hopkins
John Howland
Edward Leister
Edmund Margesson
Christopher Martin
William Mullins
Degory Priest
John Rigsdale
Thomas Rogers
George Soule
Myles Standish
Edward Tilley
John Tilley
Thomas Tinker
John Turner
Richard Warren
William White
Thomas Williams
Edward Winslow
Gilbert Winslow
7
The House of Burgesses
The first legislature anywhere in the English colonies in America
was in Virginia. This was the House of Burgesses, and it first
met on July 30, 1619, at a church in Jamestown. Its first order of
business was to set a minimum price for the sale of tobacco.
Although the first session was cut short because of an outbreak
of malaria, the House of Burgesses soon became a symbol of
representative government. The 22 members of the House of
Burgesses were elected by the colony as a whole, or actually
men over 17 who also owned land. Royally appointed councillors (of which there were usually
six) and governor rounded out the legislature. The governor was originally appointed by the
Virginia Colony and later by the Crown.
The House of Burgesses, which met at first only once a year,
could make laws, which could be vetoed by the governor or the
directors of the Virginia Company. This continued to be the
standard until 1624, when Virginia became a royal colony. At this
time, England took much more control of things in Virginia,
restricting the powers of the House of Burgesses.
Through the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, many
leaders of the move toward independence made their names in the House of Burgesses. Patrick
Henry introduced seven resolutions against the Stamp Act there in 1765.
The fact that the burgesses could make their own laws was very much on the mind of many
people in the American colonies, especially when Great Britain continued to pass harsh laws
that the colonists viewed as "taxation without representation."
Famous burgesses also included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
8
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Fundamental Orders, "Voted" on January 14, 1638 by a popular convention of the three
towns of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, and were the beginning of Connecticut as a
commonwealth. Their spirit was that of a sermon preached by the Rev. Thomas Hooker a short
time before their adoption, in the course of which he laid down the proposition "The foundation
of authority is laid in the free consent of the people," and which he closed with the challenge:
"As God has given us liberty let us take it." They recognized no allegiance on the part of the
colonists to England but in effect set up an independent government. In the sense that they
were intended to be a framework of government more permanent than the usual orders adopted
by the General Court, they were in essence a constitution. The historian John Fiske was
justified in his statement that this instrument was "the first written constitution known to history
that created a government and it marked the beginning of American democracy." While in 1662
the Fundamental Orders were in a sense superseded by the charter, that document, drawn up
in the colony and taken to England by its representative, was never regarded by the colonists as
the source of their government, but as a protection for and guaranty of the government they had
already set up for themselves. So it was that for forty years after the independence of this
nation, Connecticut could still carry on its government under the charter. And so it is that this
commonwealth has preserved a continuity of development beyond that of almost any other state
or nation in the world.
9
John Haynes
(1594?-1654), American colonial leader, born in Essex, England. In 1633
he joined the Puritan immigration to America, settling in New Towne (now
Cambridge), Massachusetts Bay Colony. As governor of that colony (163536), in an act he later regretted, he banished the clergyman and
subsequent founder of the Rhode Island colony, Roger Williams. In 1637
Haynes settled in Hartford, Conn., and helped frame a new governing code
John Haynes
for the colony, known as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. He was
elected the first governor in 1639 and was reelected under the provisions
of the code in alternate years until his death. He urged the union of the New England colonies
and later served as Connecticut commissioner to the New England Confederation.
George Fenwick
Colonel George Fenwick arrived in 1639. He became the second governor of the Saybrook
Plantation (Colony). In 1644, as agent for the other fourteen Warwick Patentees, he sold the
Fort and Saybrook Colony to the Connecticut Colony. He returned to his native England where
he was a member of the Long Parliament, and served as Governor of Tynemouth, Berwickupon-Tweed, Edinburgh and Leith. His first wife, Lady Alice, died during their residency at
Saybrook. In fact, she was interred twice. First, at or near the site of the fort, and when the
construction of the railroad took place at Saybrook Point in 1870, her remains were removed to
her second and final resting place in Cypress Cemetery.
As governor of Saybrook Colony, Fenwick would seal his documents with a ring, which is
believed to be the basis for the present official seal of the State of Connecticut and whose motto
is "He Who Transplanted Sustains."
10
The Genesis:
"The British people do not have a written constitution. They have an "unwritten" constitution
composed of customs, traditions, and the important documents such as their Magna Carta and
their Bill of Rights.
Some of the Englishmen who settled in the American colonies, including the men who founded
the colony of Connecticut in 1636, did not have much faith in this approach to government.
Unpleasant memories of recent authoritarian acts by England's rulers prompted the Connecticut
settlers to put their plan of government into writing.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution in America. Whereas
the Mayflower Compact was a general statement in favor of majority rule and government in the
interest of the common welfare, the Fundamental Orders set up a detailed scheme of
government in which the sovereign power rested with the freemen. No mention was made of the
king.
This document was a step in the direction of present-day democracy in that it set the example of
a written constitution as the basis of government - a constitution which could be read and
understood by all and which could not be changed by the will of one man or a small group."
East Hampton was a confederated township within the colony of Connecticut from 1657 until
1666 when it was brought into the colony of New York (under protest) by the Nicholls pattent.
The town citizens of East Hampton cherished the liberties which they exercised within the
colony of Connecticut. The MFOP, as the trustee corporation of Montauk, is a direct descendant
of the town government of East Hampton at that time. We are intent on asserting and exercising
these same fundamental rights and purposes as put forth in this document. Many of the
principles of governance contained within the Fundamental Orders are to be incorporated in the
Constitution and Bylaws of the MFOP.
11
January 14, 1639 - The Fundamental Orders
"Forasmuch as it hath pleased the Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence
so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford
and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connecticut and the
Lands thereunto adjoining; And well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of
God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly
and decent Government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of the
people at all seasons as occasion shall require; do therefore associate and conjoin our selves to
be as one Public State or Commonwealth; and do, for ourselves and our Successors and such
as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter; enter into Combination and Confederation
together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus which
we now profess, as also the discipline of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said
gospel is now practiced amongst us; As also in our Civil Affairs to be guided and governed
according to such Laws, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made, ordered & decreed, as
followeth: -1. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that there shall be yearly two general Assemblies or
Courts, the one the second Thursday in April, the other the second Thursday in September,
following; the first shall be called the Court of Election, wherein shall be yearly Chosen from
time to time so many Magistrates and other public Officers as shall be found requisite: Whereof
one to be chosen Governor for the year ensuing and until another be chosen, and no other
Magistrate to be chosen for more than one year; provided always there be six chosen besides
the Governor; which being chosen and sworn according to an Oath recorded for that purpose
shall have power to administer justice according to the Law here established, and for want
thereof according to the rule of the word of God; which choice shall be made by all that are
admitted freemen and have taken the Oath of Fidelity, and do cohabit within this Jurisdiction,
(having been admitted Inhabitants by the major part of the Town wherein they live,) or the major
part of such as shall be then present.
2. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Election of the aforesaid Magistrates shall be
12
on this manner: every person present and qualified for choice shall bring in (to the persons
deputed to receive them) one single paper with the name of him written in it whom he desires to
have Governor, and he that hath the greatest number of paper shall be Governor for that year.
And the rest of the Magistrates or public Officers to be chosen in this manner: The Secretary for
the time being shall first read the names of all that are to be put to choice and then shall
severally nominate them distinctly, and every one that would have the person nominated to be
chosen shall bring in one single paper written upon, and he that would not have him chosen
shall bring in a blank: and every one that hath more written papers then blanks shall b a
Magistrate for that year; which papers shall be received and told by one or more that shall be
then chosen by the court and sworn to be faithful therein; but in case there should not be six
chosen as aforesaid, besides the Governor, out of those which are nominated, then he or they
which have the most written papers shall be a Magistrate or Magistrates for the ensuing year, to
make up the foresaid number.
3. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Secretary shall not nominate any person, nor
shall any person be chosen newly into the Magistracy which was not propounded in some
General Court before, to be nominated the next Election; and to that end it shall be lawful for
each of the Towns aforesaid by their deputies to nominate any two whom they conceive fit to be
put to election; and the Court may add so many mor as they judge requisite.
4. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed that no person be chosen Governor above once in two
years, and that the Governor be always member of some approved congregation, and formerly
of the Magistracy within this Jurisdiction; and all the Magistrates Freemen of this
Commonwealth: and that no Magistrate or other public officer shall execute any part of his or
their Office before they are severally sworn, which shall be done in the face of the Court if they
be present, and in case of absence by some deputed for that purpose.
5. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that to the aforesaid Court o Election the several
Towns shall send their deputies, and when the Elections are ended they may proceed in any
public service as at other Courts. Also the other General Court in September shall be for making
o laws, and any other public occasion, which concerns the good of the Commonwealth.
13
6. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Governor shall, either by himself or by the
secretary, send out summons to the Constables of every Town for the calling of these two
standing Courts, one month at least before their several times: And also if the Governor and the
greatest part of the Magistrates see cause upon any special occasion to call a general Court,
they may give order to the secretary so to do within fourteen days warning; and if urgent
necessity so require, upon a shorter notice, giving sufficient grounds for it to the deputies when
they meet, or else be questioned for the same; And if the Governor and Major part of
Magistrates shall either neglect or refuse to call the two General standing Courts or either of
them, as also at other times when the occasions of the Commonwealth require, the Freemen
thereof, or the Major part of them, shall petition to them so to do: if then it be either denied or
neglected the said Freemen or the Major part of them shall have power to give order to the
Constables of the several Towns to do the same, and so may meet together, and choose to
themselves a Moderator, and may proceed to do any Act of power, which any other General
Court may.
7. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed that after there are warrants given out for any of the
said General Courts, the Constable or Constables of each Town shall forthwith give notice
distinctly to the inhabitants of the same, in some Public Assembly or by going or sending from
house to house, that at a place and time by him or them limited and set, they meet and
assemble themselves together to elect and choose certain deputies to be at the General Court
then following to agitate the affairs of the commonwealth; which said Deputies shall be chosen
by all that are admitted Inhabitants in the several Towns and have taken the oath of fidelity;
provided that none be chosen a Deputy for any General Court which is not a Freeman of this
Commonwealth. The foresaid deputies shall be chosen in manner following: every person that is
present and qualified as before expressed, shall bring the names of such, written in several
papers, as they desire to have chosen for that Employment, and these 3 or 4, more or less,
being the number agreed
on to be chosen for that time, that have greatest number of papers written for them shall be
deputies for that Court; whose names shall be endorsed on the back side of the warrant and
14
returned into the Court, with the Constable or Constables hand unto the same.
8. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield shall have
power, each Town, to send four of their freemen as deputies to every General Court; and
whatsoever other Towns shall be hereafter added to this Jurisdiction, they shall send so many
deputies as the Court shall judge meet, a reasonable proportion to the number of Freemen that
are in the said Towns being to be attended therein; which deputies shall have the power of the
whole Town to give their votes and allowance to all such laws and orders as may be for the
public good, and unto which the said Towns are to be bound.
9. It is ordered and decreed, that the deputies thus chosen shall have power and liberty to
appoint a time and a place of meeting together before any General Court to advise and consult
of all such things as may concern the good of the public, as also to examine their own Elections,
whether according to the order, and if they or the greatest part of them find any election to be
illegal they may seclude such for present from their meeting, and return the same and their
reasons to the Court; and if it prove true, the Court may fine the party or parties so intruding and
the Town, if they see cause, and give out a warrant to go to a new election in a legal way, either
in part or in whole. Also the said deputies shall have power to fine any that shall be disorderly at
their meetings, or for not coming in due time or place according to appointment; and they may
return the said fines into the Court if it be refused to be paid, and the treasurer to take notice of
it, and to entreat or levy the same as he doth other fines.
10. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that every General Court, except such as through
neglect of the Governor and the greatest part of Magistrates the Freemen themselves do call,
shall consist of the Governor, or some one chosen to moderate the Court, and 4 other
Magistrates at least, with the major part of the deputies of the several Towns legally chosen;
and in case the Freemen or major part of them, through neglect or refusal of the Governor and
major part of the magistrates, shall call a Court, it shall consist of the major part of Freemen that
are present or their deputies, with a Moderator chosen by them: In which said General Courts
shall consist the supreme power of the Commonwealth, and they only shall have power to make
laws or repeal them, to grant levies, to admit of Freemen, dispose of lands undisposed of, to
15
several Towns or persons, and also shall have power to call either Court or Magistrate or any
other person whatsoever into question for any misdemeanor, and may for just causes displace
or deal otherwise according to the nature of the offence; and also may deal in any other matter
that concerns the good of this commonwealth, except election of Magistrates, which shall be
done by the whole body of Freemen. In which Court the Governor or Moderator shall have
power to order the Court to give liberty of speech, and silence unseasonable and disorderly
speakings, to put all things to vote, and in case the vote be equal to have the casting voice. But
non of these Courts shall be adjourned or dissolved without the consent of the major part of the
Court.
11. It is ordered, sentenced and decreed, that when any General Court upon the occasions of
the Commonwealth have agreed upon any sum or sums of money to be levied upon the several
Towns within this Jurisdiction, that a Committee be chosen to set out and appoint what shall be
the proportion of every Town to pay of the said levy, provided the Committees be made up of an
equal number out of each Town. 14th January, 1638, the 11 Orders abovesaid are voted.
THE OATH OF THE GOVERNOR, FOR THE PRESENT.
I, N.W. being now chosen to be Governor within this Jurisdiction, for the year ensuing, and until
a new be chosen, do swear by the great and dreadful name of the everliving God, to promote
the public good and peace of the same, according to the best of my skill; as also will maintain all
lawful privileges of this Commonwealth; as also that all wholesome laws that are or shall be
made by lawful authority here established, be duly executed; and will further the execution of
Justice according to the rule of Gods word; so help me God, in the name of the Lord: Jesus
Christ.
THE OATH OF A MAGISTRATE, FOR THE PRESENT.
I, NW being chosen a Magistrate within this Jurisdiction for the year ensuing, do swear by the
great and dreadful name of the everliving God, to promote the public good and peace of the
same, according to the best of my skill, and that I will maintain all the lawful privileges thereof,
according to my understanding, as also assist in the execution of all such wholesome laws as
are made or shall be made by lawful authority here established, and will further the execution of
16
Justice for the time aforesaid according to the righteous rule of Gods word; so help me God,
etc."
The Whitfield House
Built in 1639, the Henry Whitfield House is
Connecticut's oldest house and New England's oldest
stone house. Originally it served as both the residence
of Reverend Henry C. Whitfield and as a stronghold for
the community.
17
The Declaration of Independence
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The thirteen colonies in the America's had been at war with Britain for around a year when the
Second Continental Congress decided it was time for the colonies to officially declare their
independence. This meant that they were breaking away from British rule. They would no longer
be a part of the British Empire and would fight for their freedom.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
On June 11, 1776 the Continental Congress appointed five leaders, called the Committee of
Five, to write a document explaining why they were declaring their independence. The five
members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman,
and Thomas Jefferson. The members decided that Thomas Jefferson should write the first
draft.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft over the next few weeks and, after some changes made
by the rest of the committee, they presented it to Congress on June 28, 1776.
Did everyone agree?
Not everyone agreed at first on declaring independence. Some wanted to wait until the colonies
had secured stronger alliances with foreign countries. In the first round of voting South Carolina
and Pennsylvania voted "no" while New York and Delaware chose not to vote. The Congress
wanted the vote to be unanimous, so they continued to discuss the issues. The next day, July
2nd, South Carolina and Pennsylvania reversed their votes. Delaware decided to vote "yes" as
well. This meant that the agreement to declare independence passed with 12 yes votes and 1
abstention (meaning New York chose not to vote).
July 4, 1776
On July 4, 1776 the Congress officially adopted the final version of the Declaration of
Independence. This day is still celebrated in the United States as Independence Day.
18
After the signing, the document was sent to a printer to make copies. Copies were sent to all the
colonies where the declaration was read aloud in public and published in newspapers. A copy
was also sent to the British government.
Famous Words
The Declaration of Independence did more than just say the colonies wanted their freedom. It
explained why they wanted their freedom. It listed all the bad things that the king had done to
the colonies and that the colonies had rights which they felt they should fight for.
Perhaps one of the most famous statements in the history of the United States is in the
Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness."
Fun Facts about the Declaration of Independence



The movie National Treasure says that there is a secret written on the back of the
original document. There isn't a secret, but there is some writing. It says "Original
Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776".
Fifty-six members of Congress signed the Declaration.
You can see the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives in Washington,
DC. It's on display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
19




John Hancock's famous signature is almost five inches long. He was also the first to sign
the document.
Robert R. Livingston was a member of the Committee of Five, but didn't get to sign the
final copy.
One member of Congress, John Dickenson, did not sign the Declaration of
Independence because he still hoped that they could have peace with Britain and remain
a part of the British Empire.
Two signers of the Declaration that later became president of the United States were
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
The Declaration of Independence
Full text
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God
entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the
causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under
absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide
new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies;
and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of
Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these
States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to becom
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
20
suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has
utterly neglected to attend to them.
those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable
to them and formidable to tyrants only.
the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance
with his measures.
s repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his
invasions on the rights of the people.
whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large
for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion
from without, and convulsions within.
the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations
hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
establishing Judiciary powers.
amount and payment of their salaries.
people, and eat out their substance.
legislatures.
has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and
unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should
commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
the benefits of Trial by Jury:
21
therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an
example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
the Forms of our Governments:
ng our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to
legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
against us.
ur Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of
our people.
death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely
paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
e the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves
by their Hands.
us, and has endeavoured to bring on the
inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an
undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these
Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions
have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every
act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from
time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We
have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our
common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our
connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our
Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress,
Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do,
in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and
declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States;
that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as
Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract
Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States
may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of
divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred
Honor.
22
Articles of Confederation
What were the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States. This
document officially established the government of the union of the thirteen states.
Why did the colonies write the Articles of Confederation?
The colonies knew they needed some form of official government that united the thirteen
colonies. They wanted to have written down rules that all the states agreed to. The Articles
allowed the Congress to do things like raise an army, be able to create laws, and print money.
Who wrote the document?
The Articles of Confederation was first prepared by a committee of thirteen men from the
Second Continental Congress. The chairman of the committee and primary author of the first
draft was John Dickinson.
When was the document ratified by the colonies?
In order for the Articles to be official, they had to be ratified (approved) by all thirteen states. The
Congress sent the articles to the states to be ratified near the end of 1777. Virginia was the first
state to ratify on December 16, 1777. The last state was Maryland on February 2, 1781.
The Thirteen Articles
There were thirteen articles within the document. Here is a short summary of each article:
1. Established the name of the union as "The United States of America."
2. The state governments still had their own powers that were not listed in the Articles.
23
3. Refers to the union as a "league of friendship" where the states will help to protect
each other from attacks.
4. People can travel freely between states, but criminals shall be sent back to the state
where they committed the crime for trial.
5. Establishes the Congress of the Confederation where each state gets one vote and
can send a delegation with between 2 and 7 members.
6. The central government is responsible for foreign relations including trade agreements
and declaring war. States must maintain a militia, but may not have a standing army.
7. States may assign military ranks of colonel and below.
8. Money to pay for the central government will be raised by each of the state
legislatures.
9. Gives power to the Congress in regards to foreign affairs like war, peace, and treaties
with foreign governments. Congress will act as the court in disputes between states.
Congress shall establish official weights and measures.
10. Established a group called the Committee of the States which could act for Congress
when Congress was not in session.
11. Stated that Canada could join the union if it wanted.
12. Stated that the new union would agree to pay for earlier war debts.
13. Declared that the Articles were "perpetual" or "never ending" and could only be
changed if Congress and all the states agreed.
Results
The Articles of Confederation worked well for the newly formed country during the period of the
American Revolution, but it had many flaws. Some of the flaws included:




No power to raise money through taxes
No way to enforce the laws passed by Congress
No national court system
Each state only had one vote in Congress despite the size of the state
As a result, in 1788, the Articles were replaced with the current United States Constitution.
Interesting Facts about the Articles of Confederation




The formal name for the document is the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual
Union."
The reason some of the states, like Maryland, took so long to ratify the Articles was
because they were involved in border disputes with other states.
Ben Franklin introduced an early version of the Articles of Confederation in 1775. In his
version the union was called the "United Colonies of North America."
John Dickinson was nicknamed the "Penman of the Revolution" for his early
revolutionary work Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. He also wrote the Olive
Branch Petition and a famous Revolutionary War song called The Liberty Song.
24
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights 1689
Definition of the English Bill of Rights of 1689
The Meaning and Definition of the English Bill of Rights: The 1689 English Bill of Rights was a
British Law, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1689 that declared the rights and
liberties of the people and settling the succession in William III and Mary II following
the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when James II was deposed. Note: The date of the English Bill
of Rights is referred to as either dated as March 1689 or as February 13, 1688 in Old Style
dating.
Summary of the English Bill of Rights
The 1689 English Bill of Rights had a massive influence on the colonies in North America and
the Constitution of the United States. The most important Articles of the 1689 English Bill of
Rights are as follows:
A frequently summoned Parliament and free elections
Members should have freedom of speech in Parliament
25
No armies should be raised in peacetime
No taxes could be levied, without the authority of parliament
Laws should not be dispensed with, or suspended, without the consent of parliament
No excessive fines should imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights established a constitutional monarchy in Great Britain. A constitutional
monarchy is one in which the King or Queen has a largely ceremonial position. It is a form of
government in which a monarch acts as head of state but their powers are defined and limited
by law. Constitutional monarchies employ a parliamentary system with a Prime Minister as head
of the government. The English Bill denounced King James II for abusing his power and the bill
was passed as British law in December 1688. The English Bill of Rights clearly established that
the monarchy could not rule without consent of Parliament. The English Bill put in place a
constitutional form of government in which the rights and liberties of the individual were
protected under English law. The English Bill of Rights had a great influence on the colonies in
North America and the Constitution of the United States.
The Provisions of the English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights followed the 1688 Glorious Revolution when King James II was
replaced by King William III and Mary. The provisions of this important English Bill incorporated
the Declaration of Rights and consisted of:
A list of the misdeeds of King James II
Thirteen Articles confirming the rights of Parliament and the people and defining the limitations
of the Crown
Confirmation of the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights established a constitutional monarchy in Great Britain. A constitutional
monarchy is one in which the King or Queen has a largely ceremonial position. It is a form of
government in which a monarch acts as head of state but their powers are defined and limited
by law. Constitutional monarchies employ a parliamentary system with a Prime Minister as head
of the government. The English Bill denounced King James II for abusing his power and the bill
was passed as British law in December 1688. The English Bill of Rights clearly established that
the monarchy could not rule without consent of Parliament. The English Bill put in place a
constitutional form of government in which the rights and liberties of the individual were
protected under English law. The English Bill of Rights had a great influence on the colonies in
North America and the Constitution of the United States.
The Provisions of the English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights followed the 1688 Glorious Revolution when King James II was
replaced by King William III and Mary. The provisions of this important English Bill incorporated
the Declaration of Rights and consisted of:
26
A list of the misdeeds of King James II
Thirteen Articles confirming the rights of Parliament and the people and defining the limitations
of the Crown
Confirmation of the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England
Important Articles in the English Bill of Rights
The important articles in the English Bill of Rights are detailed in the following chart:
Important Articles in the English Bill of Rights
Articles 1 and 2 of the English Bill of Rights Laws should not be dispensed with, or suspended, without the consent of
parliament
Articles 4 and 6 of the English Bill of Rights No armies should be raised in peace time and no taxes levied, without the
authority of parliament
Articles 13 and 8 of the English Bill of RightsParliament should be frequently summoned and that there should be free
elections
Article 9 of the English Bill of Rights
Members and Peers should be able to speak and act freely in Parliament
Articles 10 of the English Bill of Rights
Excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
Important Articles in the English Bill of Rights
27
The Federalists Papers
Part 1: Defense of the New Form of Government
The Federalist Papers, a group of 85 essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution,
appeared in New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788. Taken together, the essays form a
powerful defense of the new theory of government that for a time hung in the balance.
The Constitutional Convention produced its final draft of the Constitution and submitted it to the
13 Colonies for approval in September, 1787. The Constitution itself stipulated that in order to
become law, the new framework of government had to gain the approval of nine of the 13
Colonies. New York, as a colony with one of the largest populations, had considerable
influence. Some states quickly ratified the Constitution; other states were more deliberate in
their consideration.
Federalists like Alexander Hamilton and John
Jay saw a need for promotion of the Constitution
in New York, especially after newspapers there
printed anonymous letters arguing against the
Constitution's ratification. A few New York
newspapers published a letter from "Cato," on
September 27, 1787, and a letter from "Brutus"
three weeks later. Other letters from "Cato" and
"Brutus" followed in the next several months. The
authors of the letters are generally thought to have
been George Clinton ("Cato") and Robert Yates
("Brutus"). Both "identities" took their names from
famous Romans, both opponents of Julius
Caesar.
In response, Hamilton and Jay, along with James Madison (who, unlike Hamilton and Jay, was
from Virginia, not New York), chose the name "Publius," after a Roman aristocrat who led the
overthrow of the Roman monarchy in 509 B.C.
Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution, on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania
and New Jersey followed later that month. Georgia and Connecticut ratified in January, 1788.
Massachusetts followed the following month, with Maryland (April) and South Carolina (May)
also ratifying later that year. When New Hampshire ratified, on June 21, 1788, the Constitution
was declared in effect. Virginia voted for ratification in June, and New York did the same the
following month. North Carolina, in 1789, and Rhode Island, in 1790, became the last of the 13
Colonies to vote for ratification.
At the time of the publication of The Federalist No. 1, on October 27, 1787, no states had voted
for ratification. Hamilton and other Federalists wanted New York to voice its approval because
the colony had one of the largest populations in the 13 Colonies. So issues of The
Federalist began appearing, along with more of the "Cato" and "Brutus" letters. For the better
part of the next year, more essays of The Federalist, each one arguing in favor of the
28
Constitution and some its components or ideas. Hamilton wrote nearly two-thirds of the 85
essays. Jay wrote just a few, writing four of the first five but then falling ill and writing just one
more. Madison wrote the rest, including several in collaboration with Hamilton.
The Federalist appeared regularly, as many as four times a week,
for the better part of the next year in three newspapers, the Daily
Advertiser, the Independent Journal, and the New-York Packet. In
all, 77 of the 85 were published in newspapers; the others were
published in a two-volume book form, in late 1788. The essays
were also published in other colonies, in both newspapers and
book form. (A French edition was published in 1792.)
Each essay began the same way, "To the People of the State of
New York," and ended the same way, signed "Publius." The
identity of "Publius" was not a complete secret. Many in New York
and elsewhere knew that Hamilton, Jay, and Madison were behind
the efforts of The Federalist. An 1802 book version named the
authors for the first time. At times through the years since the
essays first appeared and throughout the publication of subsequent
editions, disputes over authorship have arisen. Historians have
generally agreed on all of Jay's essays and most of the others.
Both Hamilton and Madison claimed authorship of a few, and some scholars still disagree on
the extent to which either or both contributed to specific essays.
The essays that make up The Federalist (as it was called until the 20th Century, when scholars
beginning adding the word "Papers") generally had one central theme each, although some
themes carried over into multiple essays. In the first essay, Hamilton laid out the six topics that
would be covered:
1. "The utility of the UNION to your political prosperity"
2. "The insufficiency of the present Confederation to preserve that Union"
3. "The necessity of a government at least equally energetic with the one proposed to the
attainment of this object"
4. "The conformity of the proposed constitution to the true principles of republican government"
5. "Its analogy to your own state constitution"
6. "The additional security which its adoption will afford to the preservation of that species of
government, to liberty and to prosperity"
Essays 2–14 covered the first topic. Essays 15–22 covered the second topic. The third topic
featured in essays 23–36. Numbers 37–84 covered the fourth topic. It was left to the final essay
to cover the final two topics.
29
Part 2: In Detail
Possibly the most well-known essay is No. 10,
published Nov. 23, 1787. In this essay, Madison
sets out the idea that factions (read: political
parties) will always result from the association of
people with common interests and that the only
way to keep such factions from taking over
entirely is to limit their control. His argument is
that by its very nature, a government that has the
overall consent of the governed will find a way to protect itself from being taken over by one
faction, no matter how strong that faction is:
"The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing
it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the
same party; and the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, and the smaller the
compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute their plans
of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you
make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the
rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel
it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other."
The other main argument that Madison puts forward in this essay is that the Constitution sets
out for the new United States a republic, not a democracy: Americans vote for other people to
represent their concerns. This is especially true, though on a technicality, in the election of the
President, who is elected through the Electoral College process by a group of people who are
pledged to support "the will of the people."
Madison echoes this idea in No. 14 (published Nov. 30, 1787): "… in a democracy, the people
meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by
their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A
republic may be extended over a large region."
Madison's No. 14 also includes one of the most powerful and emotional arguments in favor of
the Constitution and its theory of government:
"But why is the experiment of an extended republic to be rejected, merely because it may
comprise what is new? Is it not the glory of the people of America, that, whilst they have paid a
decent regard to the opinions of former times and other nations, they have not suffered a blind
veneration for antiquity, for custom, or for names, to overrule the suggestions of their own good
sense, the knowledge of their own situation, and the lessons of their own experience? To this
manly spirit, posterity will be indebted for the possession, and the world for the example, of the
numerous innovations displayed on the American theatre, in favor of private rights and public
happiness."
30
One of the main points of contention during the Constitutional
Convention was the idea that the Constitution itself did not
enumerate or recognize a list of basic human rights. Part of the
"Grand Compromise" that resulted in the adoption and ratification of
the new frame of government was the implicit promise that it would
eventually be accompanied by a Bill of Rights. (This was indeed the
case, in the form of the first 10 Amendments.) Hamilton didn't see a
need for such a codification and argued thus in The Federalist No.
84. Hamilton's argument, echoing the "social contract" ideas of John
Locke, from whom Thomas Jefferson took inspiration in writing
the Declaration of Independence, was that the entire Constitution
represented a Bill of Rights in that it was by its very nature a compact between the government
and the governed. One need look no further than the preamble, Hamilton said, for the protection
of liberty and basic rights. Hamilton also argued that by making such a list could create the idea
that no rights but those were protected. The Ninth Amendment addresses this concern: "The
enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people."
One of the parts of the Constitution that is the most famous is the idea of "checks and
balances," that, at the federal level, each of the three branches of government serves as a
control against domination by the other two. The Federalist No. 51 (published Feb. 8, 1788)
enunciates the theories behind and the reasons for this:
"In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided
between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among
distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people.
The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled
by itself."
This essay, No. 51, is also notable for its often-quoted rhetorical question: "But what is
government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?"
For Jay's part, his contribution was largely on the topic of "Dangers from Foreign Force and
Influence." In No. 2, Jay previews the "social contract" idea that runs through several of the
subsequent essays:
"Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally
undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their
natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers."
The more powerful argument that Jay advances in his four consecutive essays is that a united
group of states will by its very nature have more power, more influence, more chance of
success than a loose confederation of largely independent states. Given the very real possibility
of war again with other nations, such a united front is necessary, Jay argues: "It is of high
importance to the peace of America that she observe the laws of nations towards all these
powers, and to me it appears evident that this will be more perfectly and punctually done by one
national government than it could be either by thirteen separate States or by three or four
distinct confederacies."
31
Hamilton and Madison returned to this theme of union and concerted effort time and again in
subsequent essays.
The essays that make up The Federalist were intended, first and foremost, to convince the
people of New York to vote to ratify the Constitution. Hamilton's efforts to publicize the
arguments in other states, notably the largest, Virginia, are thought to have aided in the
ratification by that state. The reality was, though, that by the time that New York ratified the
Constitution, it was the 10th state to do so and the government framework was already the law
of the land. Still, Federalists like Hamilton argued, having New York's approval was definitely a
plus. It was certainly not altogether a foregone conclusion that each of the 13 Colonies would
vote to replace one representative form of government with another, especially one that gave
much power to the federal government, stoking the fears of many who had just fought a war
against an oppressor.
Modern historians now look to The Federalist as a powerful series of enunciations of the
reasons for adopting republican government.
32
The Constitution
The Constitution is the framework for the federal government of the United States. It is the
highest form of law in the country. The Constitution creates the branches of government and
gives them the power to govern. However, it also protects the citizens of the United States and
guarantees their basic rights.
History of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation
The first Constitution was called the Articles of Confederation, which was ratified in 1781. The
Articles of Confederation had issues, however. The main issue was that the government had no
money or way to get money under the Articles. The army wasn't being paid and was deserting.
Debts to foreign countries weren't being paid. The government became too weak and a new
constitution was needed.
Constitutional Convention
In May of 1787 the Constitutional Convention gathered to discuss changes to the Articles of the
Confederation. After some debate it became apparent to the representatives that a new
Constitution was needed. A lot of the debate was held in secret so that the delegates would feel
free to speak their minds.
A primary aim of the Constitution was to create a government that would be powerful enough to
run the country, but would not impose on people's or state's rights. To avoid too much power
being held by one person or group, they created the Balance of Power between the three
branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
There were two primary competing plans for the Constitution:
Virginia Plan - The Virginia plan was written by James Madison. It represented the desires of
the larger states and said that the number of representatives to Congress should be based on
33
the state's population.
New Jersey Plan - The New Jersey plan was written by William Paterson from New Jersey. It
represented the smaller states and said that each state should have the same number of
representatives.
In the end, an agreement was reached called The Great Compromise. This allowed the number
of representatives to the House be based on the state's population while each state would have
two representatives in the Senate.
Articles of the Constitution
The Constitution is organized into seven articles:







Legislative Power
Executive Power
Judicial Power
States' Powers and Limits
Amendments
Federal Power
Ratification
Ratification
In order for the Constitution to go into affect, 9 of the 13 states needed to ratify it. The first state
to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. The last state was Rhode Island
in May of 1790.
Preamble to the Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America."
Fun Facts about the Constitution






James Madison is often called the father of the Constitution since so much of his work
and ideas were incorporated into the final document.
Gouverneur Morris wrote the Constitution and is widely credited with authoring the
famous preamble.
39 of the 55 delegates at the convention signed the document. Many who refused did so
because of the lack of a Bill of Rights.
The US Constitution is the oldest written constitution still used in the world today.
The Constitution that is on display at the National Archives was penned by Jacob
Shallus.
There are currently 27 amendments to the Constitution.
34
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. The idea
behind the Bill of Rights was to insure certain freedoms and rights to the citizens of America. It
put limits on what the government could do and control. Freedoms protected include freedom of
religion, speech, assembly, the right to bear arms, unreasonable search and seizure of your
home, the right to a speedy trial, and more.
Many delegates of the states were against signing the Constitution without a Bill of Rights
included. It became a major issue in ratifying the Constitution in some states. As a result, James
Madison wrote 12 amendments and presented them to the First Congress in 1789. On
December 15, 1791 ten of the amendments were passed and made part of the Constitution.
They would later become known as the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights was based on several previous documents including the Magna Carta, the
Virginia Declaration of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
Here is a list of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights:
The First Amendment - states that Congress shall make no law preventing the establishment
of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. Also protected are freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
The Second Amendment - protects citizen's right to bear arms.
The Third Amendment - prevents the government from placing troops in private homes. This
was a real problem during the American Revolutionary War.
The Fourth Amendment - this amendment prevents the government from unreasonable search
and seizure of the property of US citizens. It requires the government to have a warrant that was
issued by a judge and based on probable cause.
The Fifth Amendment - The Fifth Amendment is famous for people saying "I'll take the Fifth".
This gives people the right to choose not to testify in court if they feel their own testimony will
incriminate themselves.
In addition this amendment protects citizens from being subject to criminal prosecution and
punishment without due process. It also prevents people from being tried for the same crime
35
twice. The amendment also establishes the power of eminent domain, which means that private
property cannot be seized for public use without just compensation.
The Sixth Amendment - guarantees a speedy trial by a jury of one's peers. Also, people
accused are to be informed of the crimes with which they are charged and have the right to
confront the witnesses brought by the government. The amendment also provides the accused
the right to compel testimony from witnesses, and to legal representation (meaning the
government has to provide a lawyer).
The Seventh Amendment - provides that civil cases also be tried by jury.
The Eighth Amendment - prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual
punishments.
The Ninth Amendment - states that the list of rights described in the Constitution is not
exhaustive, and that the people still have all the rights that are not listed.
The Tenth Amendment - gives all powers not specifically given to the United States
government in the Constitution, to either the states or to the people.
36