Preview

The Bill Of Rights: The First Ten Amendments

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
233 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Bill Of Rights: The First Ten Amendments
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1791. The amendments recognize the citizens' freedoms and basic rights such as free speech and religion, due process, trial by jury, or the right to bear arms. They also establish limits on the governmental powers. Despite the Bill of Rights being a fundamental document in the history of the United States, many people consider it (or certain parts of it) no longer relevant or viable. Surely, as society continues to progress and new social issues arise, a document from over 200 years ago may appear as outdated; however, the Bill of Rights restricted the government and protected freedom for centuries, proving that certain human rights stay inalienable no matter the period. Besides, the Bill of Rights itself cannot be simply modified. Any specific change would require adding a new amendment. …show more content…
In 1920, the 18th amendment banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of intoxicating liquors; but years later, when the prohibition proved difficult to enforce and led to the rise of organized crime, the 21st amendment was ratified, and repealed the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The first eight amendments in the Bill of Rights were intended to protect Americans ' specific personal rights. The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of these rights and fought so that the people in the United States would have the independence that no other nation had known. These same men were well aware of the unavoidable sacrifices they were going to have to make. Listing every right that a person should possess was impossible to fit into ten amendments. Therefore, congress made the final two amendments in the Bill of Rights to be an all inclusive statute in an effort to prevent the United States government from discovering a loophole and gaining too much power. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are the final two statutes in the Bill of Rights which outlines the limited control of the government and even more importantly the power of the people.…

    • 1547 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    It outlines the freedoms and rights that citizens have, for example when a citizen is on trial they have the right to a fair trial, before trials were often unfair and innocent people were found guilty. Just like the United States has changed and evolved over the past 200 years, certain rights addressed in the Bill of Rights have also changed. Some don't really even pertain to today. Amendment three for example doesn't really have any relativity today. Back then housing troops was a major issue but today it is not. The Bill of Rights was written in an era completely different than ours. Issues were different and with that there were different situations to arise. I believe that the Bill of Rights to change as the times change. 200 years ago they didn't have the issues of searching people when going through the airport, because of the fear that there might be some kind of danger. As times change I believe so should the Bill of Rights, to an extent. There are certain rights that are just as relevant now as they were 200 year ago, yet the ones that no longer pertain to us should be taken out and replaced with new ones that would serve the people better. The Patriot Act which was enacted to protect citizens from terrorism, seems like it has limited basic rights more than it has protected. Citizens passing up rights in order to feel protected. There are people out there though…

    • 879 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prohibition occurred in the 1920s after the 18th amendment was passed, which made alcohol illegal for everyone in the U.S. The 18th amendment was passed to stop people from becoming violent after consuming alcohol. In 1933 the 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment and allowed the alcohol in America. There has recently been controversy over alcohol in Miami because of Ocean Drive wanting to ban the substance in an attempt to reduce violence and the risk of car accidents. There are still issues over drinking alcohol today, although it is not as strict as Prohibition, there continues to be controversy over people drinking alcohol.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The 18th amendment, which made the consumption, production, and sale of alcohol illegal lasted almost fourteen years. “Prohibition, failing fully to enforce sobriety and costing billions, rapidly lost popular support in the early 1930s. ”(History) The amendment was then repealed and the 21st amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933. Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for presidency in 1932, and one of his main campaigning points was to repeal prohibition.…

    • 1516 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prohibition In The 1920's

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The 18th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of liquor known as Prohibition. The result of a widespread temperance movement during the 20th century, Prohibition was difficult to enforce and people would go through extreme lengths just to get their hands on alcohol. The illegal production and sale of liquor, the proliferation of speakeasies, and the rise in gang violence and other crimes went way up. This led to waning support for Prohibition at the end of the 1920’s.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that define basic liberties ensured to American citizens. Some of these liberties include freedom of religion, speech, press, and guarantee defendant’s rights. These rights are now known as civil liberties. The Barron v Baltimore case concluded that the Bill of Rights restrained only the national government, not the states and the cities. The first…

    • 1352 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 18th amendment passed in 1920, banned the manufacturing transportation and selling of drinking alcohol throughout the U.S., which was the start of Prohibition.…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ten Amendments

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Constitution contains the ten amendments all of which I will explain in this essay. I will also explain some key facts of which the Constitution is written by and some of the dates in which key points of the Constitution occurred. The Constitution is a very important document which was created more than two hundred years ago. The first amendment is the amendment of is the freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press. Congress can make no law establishing a religion and it gives the freedom of speech. It also grants the right to hold an assembly. The second amendment allows citizens the right to bear arms. The third amendment grants the right that no soldier can take refuge in someone…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ironically, the twenties are often thought of as a time with careless drinking, when actually, it was illegal in that decade to sell or consume alcohol. On January 16th, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect. A ban on the manufacturing and distribution on alcohol was written into the United States Constitution. This ban was called Prohibition. People held mock funerals the day before the amendment came to pass. Some people and businesses even spent the weeks prior to the amend.ent stockpiling liquor.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    bill of rights

    • 1108 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A brief history on how the Bill of Rights came forth. Back in the late 1700’s, several states were called for a constitution to protect individual’s rights from the government. Through these calls, James Madison came forth and put together the Amendments, which was later signed in 1791(1). What started off as 17 Amendments was trimmed down to 10 main one’s which is where we stand now with the Bill of Rights. There are several key Amendments that tie into criminal law. Those amendments are 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th. The 1st amendment allows individuals the freedom of speech. This does not allow the government to arrest anyone who lets say wants sit on a racial protest, or disallow anyone from following different religions. We as individuals have the right to follow whatever religions we choose. Now there are some twists that come into play with this Amendment. It does allow the “Freedom of Speech” but there are five rules you cannot break before being arrested and charged. Those five rules are, obscenity, profanity, liberal slander and or fighting words (1). If you express any of these conducts, you are subject to being arrested. There was a case in New Hampshire, where a gentleman called a marshal, “God-damned racketeer.” He was later convicted, because he used profanity in his speech (1). This is a prime example of how there are limits to the First Amendment.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    We all know that as citizens we have certain unalienable rights that are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, but why are they important and how do they apply today? The rights that are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights are: freedom of religion, speech, assembly, press, and petition, right to keep and bear arms, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, no quartering of soldiers in any house without the consent of the owner, the right to due process of law, the right to a speedy trial, freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment, the right to a trial by jury, unenumerated rights, and powers reserved to the States.…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Back to 1920- 1933, the prohibition take a place in the United State, but it is important to point out that the 18th amendment was just prohibition for the sale and making of alcohol while the use of alcohol was legal. For example, people were allowed to use some kind of…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Bill of Rights consists of ten significant amendments that protect our liberties from the government, and it limits their power. Many people have very different opinions when it comes to choosing which amendment is the most important one. Some say the most important amendment is the second amendment, but the two amendments that I believe are the most important would be the first and fourth amendment.…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Bill Of Rights Essay

    • 340 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Billl of Rights are stated in the first ten amendments. This bill contains the rights of; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures, right to bear arms, right to not give housing to soldiers during peace time, freedom of the press, freedom to equal justice, and the right to freedom and security.…

    • 340 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Bill of Rights is a memorial and milestone in the never ending struggle of men to recapture and uphold liberty and dignity. The need of a stronger government was the cause of the creation of the Constitution of the United States. “The Constitution established not merely a league of states, but a government that exercised its authority directly over all citizens.” (Almanac of Policy Issues) The Constitution protected citizen’s rights in the states. However, the Bill of Rights was merely the statement and enforcement of every citizen’s rights, no matter the race. It prevented misconstruction and abuse of power. “The Bill of Rights was added to further specify the rights the government could not encroach upon.” (Revolutionary War and Beyond) The government couldn’t do anything against what was written in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the Constitution. The first amendment is the most well known amendment, which is the freedom of speech. The next nine amendments are as follows: the right to bear arms, “privacy in your own home without unwanted government intrusion,” (ACLU) the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to trial by jury in civil cases, excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Lastly, whatever powers the federal government does not acquire are reserved for the states. (Head) The Bill of Rights has played a very important role in society, protecting the rights of every American citizen.…

    • 1859 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays