Bill of Rights - Explained and Analyzed

James Nelson 3rd 

Dr. Solheim

History 107

19 January 2017

Bill of Rights: Explained and Analyzed

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights as many of us know of that. The Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791, which is during the presidency of our first leader in office George Washington. The Bill of Rights amendments 1-10 limited the power of the national government and guaranteed US citizen’s certain personal rights. Once James Madison proposed the amendments to the House of Congress it didn’t take long for three-fourths of the states to ratify the 10 amendments.

The first amendment of the Bill of Rights states that every American citizen has the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the freedom of expression. It is also referred to as the Establishment Clause. It also states that an American has the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The reason for this addition to the Constitution was due to the tyranny of the British who had suppressed free speech and the right to have public meetings. Americans also wanted to ensure their right to religious freedom.

The second amendment is the right to bear arms. The right to bear arms means that people have the right to keep a weapon and to use it to protect themselves. The barbarity of the early colonists led to the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. The cause for this addition to the Constitution was due to experiences with the British who had attempted to suppress the activities of the Militia. Americans looked for a written right that allowed them to keep weapons to defend their families and their country.

The third amendment states that soldiers cannot take, or live, in a person's house without the permission of the owner. The reason for this addition to the Constitution was due to many Americans being forced by the Quartering Act to house and feed British soldiers. The outrage of the early colonists against the treatment, and the laws, imposed by the British led to the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. The colonists had no choice in this violation of privacy in their own homes.

The fourth Amendment states that the government cannot arrest a person or search their property unless there is "probable cause" that a crime has been committed. The reason for this addition to the Constitution was due to the British searching the homes of many Patriots. People were subjected to rough treatment if any resistance was shown. The reason for this addition was therefore to ensure that citizens would feel safe in their own homes. The only other way the government can search private property is to produce a search warrant.

The fifth Amendment says that the government must follow the due process of the law before punishing a person and that all citizens had the right to a trial by jury. Also, it states that a person can’t be put on trial twice for the same crime. That person on trial does not have to say anything that incriminates his or her self. Which is known as ‘Pleading the Fifth’. The reason for this addition to the Constitution was due to the British refusing to grant the same rights to American subjects as they gave to people in Great Britain. A lot of people were incarcerated without even being accused of a crime. This is precisely referred to the right of a Trial by Jury and the right not incriminate themselves. The fifth Amendment is also referred to as the Double Jeopardy and the Due Process Clause. The Due Process Clauses act as safeguards from denial of life, liberty, or property.