As the final copy of The Constitution neared ratification trouble arouse. Antifederalists, or people who didn't support The Constitution were not going to approve of the document unless a Bill of Rights was also ratified. The antifederalists wanted the Bill of Rights because they thought that because citizens and state rights were not specifically stated the government could easily take them away and become a abusive government. The federalists who did support The Constitution wanted it ratified as soon as possible. They didn't believe in the need for a Bill of Rights because they thought the government already had limited powers making it hard for the Government to take over. In the end the federalists and antifederalists compromised. If the antifederalists ratified The Constitution, the federalists would immediately make ten amendments to it. These amendments were drafted by James Madison and were known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights originally included twelve amendments, but two of them were not ratified.
The First Ten Amendments
Amendment I
The first amendment includes 5 limited freedoms that citizens are entitled to. The 5 freedoms are freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition. -Freedom of religion: The government cannot force you to believe or practice one religion, nor can they tell you that you can't practice a religion. -Freedom of Speech: Citizens are allowed to say what they think. Meaning that they can disagree with someone without being criminalized for it. However you cannot just run into a crowded theater and scream "Fire" when there is no fire. -Freedom of Press: Reporters, or editors can talk or print about a topic without being punished. This helps citizens stay informed about what is going on in the government allowing them to be responsible and active citizens. Freedom to Assemble: This means that people can join groups, clubs, or even political parties, even if they have unpopular views about the government, or other policies. -Freedom to Petition: This freedom allows people to complain to the government about what they think is needed for the country without being penalized.
Amendment II
This amendment gives people the right to bear arms. This means that citizens can have and use guns. This amendment also allows the state to keep a militia that is well coordinated so it can protect its citizens.
Amendment III
This states that the government cannot force a citizen to keep a soldier in their home without their consent. This was important to the citizens because when the colonies were under British rule citizens had to feed soldiers as well as give up their beds to them.
Amendment IV
This amendment protects citizens from unwarranted searches of their bodies, possessions, or homes. The only way they can search you and your belongings is if the court gives the government, or police, a detailed warrant stating specifically what they can search. These warrants can only be given out if there is a good reason for them.
Amendment V
This amendment protects anyone who is accused of a crime, meaning they are innocent until they are proven guilty. Also if you are tried for a crime but you are ruled innocent, you cannot be tried again for the same crime in the same case. Being tried for the same crime twice is know as Double Jeopardy, which is illegal according to this amendment. another part to this amendment is that a person can't be forced to testify against themselves. This way the person accused of a crime is not pressured into admitting to a crime they didn't really commit. The next part of the fifth amendment is the right to a Due Process. This means that before someone can be punished for a crime the government has to follow a specific procedure to prove someone guilty. The Due Process includes reading off the rights an alleged criminal has such as right to remain silent, and right to a attorney.The final part of this amendment is called Eminent Domain. This means that the government can't use your property and tell you to evacuate without paying you for what your property is worth so you can relocate.
Amendment VI
The sixth amendment ensures that everyone is entitled to a fair and speedy trial. If you are accused of a crime and they put you in jail, but make you wait for your trial it could just give the accuser and their lawyer more time to build up evidence against you. If you are being accused you are given the right to a public trial where you can question the accusers and ask for eye witnesses.
Amendment VII
This amendment gives you the right to a trial by a jury. This means that if you are accused of a crime there will be a trial with a jury of randomly selected citizens who will hear both sides of the story and the decide on the verdict, guilty or innocent.
Amendment VIII
This amendment protects you from multiple things including high bails and fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishment. If you are put in jail for a crime you can be bailed out by paying money which pledges that you will be at the trial. If you are kept in jail because the fine is excessively high that goes against this amendment. Also this amendment protects you from being tortured until you say you committed a crime you may not have committed.
Amendment IX
The ninth amendment is a very important amendment because it states that the rights listed in The Constitution and Bill of Rights are not the only rights citizens have. These rights, although not specifically stated, can not be violated either.
Amendment X
The tenth amendment deals with state rights that are not specifically written out in The Constitution or Bill of Rights. There are certain rights that are not given to the state or the government under those two documents and they are called reserved rights. Since these rights aren't given to either the state or federal government specifically, but they are not denied to the state, the state gets to have control over these rights.