Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers believed that after they won their independence from Britain, they would have a written formal plan of their new government. The only problem was that this document didn't allow the American government to tax its citizens and states, enforce its few laws, or recruit men for an army. They did this because they were afraid of becoming a much too powerful government and treat their citizens like Britain treated them. They had no organization in who did what in their government and would soon receive a wake up call from the very citizens who fought for their freedom.
Shay's Rebellion
After the American Revolutionary War, the government of the nation of America formed the Articles of Confederation at the Second Continental Congress. This was America's first written constitution to formally plan their new federal government. However, they were greatly in debt and in order to pay it off from the war, they taxed the citizens (hypocritically) like Britain had just done to them. This meant that farmers and other colonists who were fighting in the war had to pay taxes. A lot of these people came home to foreclosure on their homes because they could not pay their taxes while they were fighting for freedom. One of these citizens who had a foreclosed home was named Daniel Shay. He fought for America's freedom at the battles of Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Saratoga. Shay was so enraged at his own country's bad laws, that he organized a group of hundreds of farmers and tried to stop foreclosure hearings. They failed after being shot at by the militia, but they did accomplish giving the federal government a wake-up call saying that something was wrong and they need to fix it. This would lead to George Washington and other Founding Fathers of the nation coming out of retirement for the Constitutional Convention which was just around the corner.
The U.S. Constitution
At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates replaced the Articles of Confederation with the U.S. Constitution, which is the United State's formal plan of government. The framers and author, James Madison, had the goals for the U.S. Constitution to state all of their branches of government, basis of all laws, the checks and balances between the branches, and the citizen's rights. The constitution is important in that it is the basis/foundation of their new government to depend on and refer to. It is what the government (now) can use to check that all laws are fair, to control the government's power, and to protect the rights and liberty of the citizens.
The Constitution also states that there are 3 branches of government. The Executive Branch consists of the President (Commander in Chief and leader of nation), the Vice President (leader of Senate), and all the Cabinet members. The Judicial Branch consists of the upper, Supreme Court (9 lifetime members), and the lower courts and judges. The Legislative Branch consists of 2 houses (bicameral), the House of Representatives with 435 members and the Senate with 100 members. The Executive Branch carries out the laws, the Judicial Branch makes sure the laws are constitutional, and the Legislative Branch makes the laws. Each branch has "checks" over the other branches to "balance" out the power of a government and to make sure no one branch gets supreme power over the other branches. Those are the 3 branches of government that the U.S. Constitution states and their jobs.
The Constitution also states that there are 3 branches of government. The Executive Branch consists of the President (Commander in Chief and leader of nation), the Vice President (leader of Senate), and all the Cabinet members. The Judicial Branch consists of the upper, Supreme Court (9 lifetime members), and the lower courts and judges. The Legislative Branch consists of 2 houses (bicameral), the House of Representatives with 435 members and the Senate with 100 members. The Executive Branch carries out the laws, the Judicial Branch makes sure the laws are constitutional, and the Legislative Branch makes the laws. Each branch has "checks" over the other branches to "balance" out the power of a government and to make sure no one branch gets supreme power over the other branches. Those are the 3 branches of government that the U.S. Constitution states and their jobs.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was written to protect the rights the citizens and to get the antifederalists to accept the US Constitution. It states 10 basic rights in the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution to have in writing what rights we will always have. The first Amendment states five freedoms that US citizens have: the freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition. I am Christian and the freedom of religion aplies to my family to allow us and others to practice any religion. Also the freedom of the press has its examples like the other day I read in the paper that they were talking bad about Obama because they have that right. The fourth Amendment states that we have the right to be searched and seized only under propable cause and with an arrest warrant. This can come into effect to limit the power of the police and protect those who are really innocent.
Amendment I (1): Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II (2): Right to bear arms
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III (3): Housing of soldiers
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV (4): Search and arrest warrants
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V (5): Rights in criminal cases
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
Amendment VI (6): Rights to a fair trial
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII (7): Rights in civil cases
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII (8): Bails, fines, and punishments
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX (9): Rights retained by the people
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X (10): Powers retained by the states and the people
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II (2): Right to bear arms
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III (3): Housing of soldiers
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV (4): Search and arrest warrants
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V (5): Rights in criminal cases
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
Amendment VI (6): Rights to a fair trial
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII (7): Rights in civil cases
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII (8): Bails, fines, and punishments
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX (9): Rights retained by the people
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X (10): Powers retained by the states and the people
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.