Civics_Ch3_Homework-2

=**Civics Chapter 3 Homework #2**= Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. One of the arguments against the new Constitution by the Anti-federalists was that it didn't have a bill of rights. Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist, argued that the Constitution didn't need a bill of rights because the new federal government only had the powers given to it by the Constitution and therefore couldn't violate rights because the Constitution didn't allow them to and all 13 states had a bill of rights in their state constitutions. Many feared, though, that states would reject the new Constitution and not approve of it without a bill of rights. As a result, James Madison, one of the framers of the Constitution, proposed a list of amendments that focused on individual rights. In 1791, the states ratified 10 of the 12 proposals. The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution protecting freedoms by further limiting the power of the federal government. **Why did some people originally oppose the Constitution?**

2. The first amendment protects some of our most basic freedoms. One part is freedom of religion. The framers were from England and knew what an established church was. In England, everyone had to belong to the Church of England by law and pay taxes to the Church of England no matter if they wanted to or not. The framers didn't want that and this was therefore the basis of religious freedom. The first amendment says Congress can't establish an official church. Secularists (those against religion) today aim to remove aspects of Christianity from society - like removing Nativity scenes at Christmas and going after schools or courthouses with the Ten Commandments, even though having these things really doesn't violate the Establishment Clause. The Founding Fathers would certainly have approved of optional school prayers. Secularists have succeeded, though, in getting the Supreme Court to rule against this. Another freedom is speech. The framers wanted the citizens to be free to voice their opinions on certain issues and even be able to criticize those in power. There are some court approved limitations to this freedom such as not being allowed to commit slander (lie that hurts a person's reputation), make threats, or use obscene language. A third freedom is the press. The government cannot censor the press. This means the government cannot control what is printed in the newspaper. The only time the government can stop a story from being printed is if it's for national security purposes. A fourth freedom is to assemble. This freedom was violated shortly before the Revolutionary War when the British weren't allowing the colonists, who favored independence, to meet. A fifth freedom in the first amendment is to petition the government. This means we have the right to gather signatures and contact our lawmakers asking them to pass certain laws. **What basic freedoms does the 1st amendment guarantee?**

3. **Which one of the five rights in the first amendment do YOU think is most important? Why?**

4. In 1639, fearful of attacks by Native Americans, the colony of Virginia passed a law requiring many colonists to carry a firearm or be fined. In the 1700s, as suspicion of the British military increased and the Revolutionary War broke out, colonists no longer needed to be told to bear arms. Without the right to bear arms, colonists would not have been able to defend themselves against the British troops. By the time the Bill of Rights was drafted, Americans were convinced of the need for militias to protect and defend themselves. The 2nd amendment uses the word militia, but also uses the words "the right of the people" in allowing the right to bear arms. Anytime the framers used the words "right of the people" it meant that a right was an individual right, not a group right only set aside for a militia. Today, the United States has a strong national military and no longer depends on such militias. However, many Americans rightly cherish the 2nd amendment since it is an individual right as mentioned and necessary for self-defense. In more recent years, Congress has approved background checks and waiting periods on purchasing guns. Some states have much more stricter gun control laws than others. However, statistics are showing that states with stricter gun control laws are seeing more violence than states without strict gun control laws. **Why is the 2nd amendment important for people today?**

5. There are several amendments that protect the rights of a person accused of a crime. The 4th amendment says no illegal searches or seizures. In order for police or the government to conduct a search there needs to be a search warrant approved by a judge describing the place to be searched and the people or items to be seized. If not a search warrant, then the police need to have probable cause to believe there is a danger to the public safety. The fifth amendment has several protections for a person accused of a crime. Before a person can be put on trial for a crime, a grand jury must indict, or formally accuse, the individual of a crime. The fifth amendment also protects a person from self-incrimination, or having to testify against oneself. It also protects a person by having no double jeopardy, or that a person cannot put on trial for the same crime more than once. The fifth amendment also protects since the government cannot deny a person life, liberty, or property without the due process of law. This means a person can't be punished unless the law is applied fairly. The sixth amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. The seventh amendment also has similar guarantees. **What are the rights an accused person has?**

6. The 13th and 14th amendments are meant to protect civil rights, which are rights to be treated fairly. The 13th and 14th amendments were passed as a result of the North winning the Civil War to end slavery and preserve the Union. The 13th amendment abolished slavery. President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but it only freed the slaves in the South during the war. It wouldn't provide freedom for the slaves once the war was over. Lincoln pushed for the 13th amendment and it eventually was put onto the Constitution. The 14th amendment granted full citizenship to African-Americans, the former slaves, after the Civil War. It also said that the states could not deprive a person's life, liberty, or property without the due process of law, which is similar to the 5th amendment except the 5th amendment was for the federal government, the 14th was for the states to follow. **Why did Congress pass the 13th and 14th amendments?**

7. In 1870, Hiram Revels became the first African-American member of the U.S. Congress. Revels was born in 1822 in North Carolina. His heritage was a mixture of African and Croatian Indian. When his brother died, he became the manager of the family barbershop. Eventually, Revels left home to pursue an education. He became a minister in an African Methodist Episcopal Church. He preached in many states settling in Baltimore. He became the principal of a school for African-Americans. When the Civil War began in 1861, Revels supported the Union by organizing regiments of troops from Maryland and Missouri. He became a chaplain. After the war, Revels settled in Mississippi, where he continued to preach and earn the respect of local citizens, who eventually elected him to the state senate. He, then, filled the U.S. Senate seat left by Jefferson Davis. After politics, Revels returned to do more public work in Mississippi. **What did Hiram Revels do that was so important?**

8. The 13th amendment outlawed slavery in America. The 14th amendment granted citizenship to all people born in the U.S. (gave former slaves their citizenship rights). The 15th amendment gave African-Americans the right to vote. **What do these three amendments have in common?**

9. The right to vote has changed over the centuries. Originally, the right to vote was tied to owning land, mostly because the only tax people paid was the tax on their land. The 15th amendment gave African-Americans the right to vote. The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote. The 24th amendment outlawed the poll tax, which was a fee that was charged to people in order to vote, which cannot happen anymore. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests as a condition to vote. The 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18 after Vietnam since it was thought that if one was old enough to be drafted into the military and sent to war then an 18 year old is old enough to vote. **How has the right to vote expanded over time?**

10. **Do you think voting rights may be expanded in the future? Why or why not?**

11. There are several duties that citizens have, which are necessary for us to live in a civil society and to make our democratic government function properly. One is obeying the law. If we didn't have to obey laws then our society would collapse. Another duty is attending school. The United States places high value on education as a way to continue our success as one of the top nations in the world. A third duty is paying taxes. Some people want to see higher taxes while others want to see lower taxes, but overall most people see the need to at least pay taxes since tax dollars providing money for schools, roads, police, the military, and other important functions. A fourth duty is serving in the armed forces. Unlike the other three, this one isn't mandatory, but those who join the military are willing to serve the United States to protect our freedom. A fifth duty is jury duty, or serving on a jury. All citizens accused of a crime are guaranteed the right to a trial by an impartial jury of their peers. **What are five duties of American citizenship?**

12. **How can you help in your community to be a good citizen?**

13. There are various responsibilities of citizens to contribute to society. One major way everyone can contribute is by voting. Voting is a way to voice our opinions on the leadership of our nation. Being informed is a second responsibility. It's important to know what the major issues are in our nation as well as the opposing points of view on each issue. Too many citizens know one side of an issue and think it's the only argument. It's important to know all sides of a debate and then choose which side you agree with more. A third responsibility is helping your community. We all want to live in a great community and it's our responsibility to fulfill our duties and work to make our community a desirable place to live. A fourth responsibility is respecting and protecting the rights of others. We won't always agree with the points of view others have, but in our nation we are all entitled to our opinions, which leads to robust (strong) debates in our nation. **How can citizens contribute to society?**

14. James Madison said "I do conceive that the constitution may be amended, that is to say; if all power is subject to abuse, that then it is possible the abuse of the powers of the government may be guarded against in a more secure manner that is now done, while no one advantage, arising from the exercise of that power, shall be damaged or endangered by it. We have in this way something to gain, and, if we proceed with caution, nothing to lose; and in this case it is necessary to proceed with caution; for while we feel all these inducements to go into a revisal of the constitution, we must feel for the constitution itself, and make that revisal a moderate one." Madison said this when proposing the Bill of Rights. **Was Madison's point of view (A) The Bill of Rights was unnecessary and he opposed it. (B) There was no good reason to adopt the Bill of Rights, but we'll do it anyway. (C) The Constitution is flawed, and a Bill of Rights is absolutely necessary to protect our rights. (D) Power can be abused, so we should adopt some moderate changes to protect against that abuse.**

15. **In one sentence explain the benefits of the Bill of Rights.**

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