The Bill of Rights and

Good Citizenship

Just because the majority of the members of the

Constitutional Convention had signed the document

didn’t mean it automatically became the law. At least 9 out of the 13 original states had to

RATIFY or approve it.

Many people in the states broke into two groups:

FEDERALISTSANTI-

FEDERALISTS

Federalists• Favored a strong national

government.• Thought the Constitution would

protect the basic rights of people.

• Were led by men such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

Anti-Federalists• Feared the Constitution would make

the national government (Congress and the President) too strong, and would weaken state governments.

• Were concerned that there was not a Bill of Rights.

• Led by men such as George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry.

A tense battle developed in some states between the two sides.

Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and John Jay wrote a

series of 85 essays called “The

Federalist Papers” to support the Constitution.

One by one the states debated the Constitution and began to

ratify it. By June of 1788, 9 out of the 13 states had ratified the

Constitution, so it could now become the law of the land. However, two large states,

Virginia and New York, had not yet approved it. Fortunately, they

eventually did, and the country was more unified.

Ratification of the

Constitution

State For Against DateDelaware 30 0 12/7/1787

Pennsylvania 46 23 12/12/1787New Jersey 38 0 12/18/1787

Georgia 26 0 1/2/1788Connecticut 128 40 1/9/1788

Massachusetts 187 168 2/6/1788Maryland 63 11 4/28/1788

South Carolina 149 73 5/23/1788New Hampshire 57 47 6/21/1788

Virginia 89 79 6/25/1788New York 30 27 7/26/1788

North Carolina 194 77 11/21/1789Rhode Island 34 32 5/29/1790

The Nation Celebrated!• The first election was held, with

George Washington winning all the electoral votes.

• Congress had 59 Representatives and 22 Senators (North Carolina and Rhode Island had yet to ratify.)

• New York City served as the capital under the new Constitution.

The Bill of RightsSome states had been hesitant to accept the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was included. A BILL OF RIGHTS is a document that lists freedoms the government must protect. The creators of the Constitution created the AMENDMENT process in case changes ever needed to be made.

The Amendment Process• Either 2/3 of both houses of

Congress propose the amendment, or 2/3 of states can have special conventions.

• Then, 3/4 of the states must approve the amendment.

• In over 200 years, there have only been 27 amendments. Of those, the first 10 were passed shortly after the Constitution was ratified.

The second method

has never been used.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the

Bill of Rights. They were created to ensure basic

freedoms, and to make sure the government treated

citizens fairly.

They were ratified on

December 15, 1791

Click Here to Check out the Bill of Rights from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia…

Amendment #1 The 5

Freedoms

1. Religion2. Speech3. The Press4. To Assemble5. To Petition

Amendment #2

The Right to Keep

and Bear Arms

Amendment #3

Lodging Troops in Private Homes

Amendment #4

Protection Against Unlawful Searches and Seizures

Amendment #5Rights of the Accused

Amendment #6

The Right to a Speedy and

Public Trial for Criminal Offenses

Amendment #7

The Right to a Jury Trial in Civil Cases Involving More Than $20

Amendment #8

Excessive Bail and Punishments

Amendment #9

Protection of Other

Rights Not Mentioned

in the Constitution

Amendment #10Powers Left to the States or to the People

Other Amendments• #11 – Judicial power of the U. S. is not to

extend to suits against a state. (2/7/1795)• #12 – Current mode of electing the

President/Vice President through the use of “electors”. (7/27/1804)

• #13 – The prohibition of slavery. (12/6/1865)• #14 – Citizenship is defined, and privileges of

being a citizen. (7/9/1868)• #15 – Voting rights of citizens. (2/3/1870)

Other Amendments• #16 – Congress is given permission to tax

personal income. (2/3/1913)• #17 – Election of senators, filling of vacancies,

qualifications of electors. (4/8/1913)• #18 – Manufacture, sale, or transportation of

liquor is prohibited. (1/16/1920)• #19 – The right of citizens to vote shall not be

denied on account of sex. (8/18/1920)

Other Amendments• #20 – Terms of president, vice president,

senators, and representatives. (1/23/1933)• #21 – Repeal or cancellation of the 18th

Amendment. (12/5/1933)• #22 – Limit to the number of terms a

president may serve. (2/27/1951)• #23 – Electoral votes given to the District of

Columbia. (3/29/1961)

Other Amendments• #24 – Payment of poll taxes or any other

taxes in order to vote is abolished. (1/23/1964)

• #25 – Succession of vice president to the presidency in case of death, removal from office, or resignation. (2/10/1967)

• #26 – Voting age changed to 18. (7/1/1971)• #27 – Congressional pay raises shall not take

effect until elections have been held for the next Congress. (5/7/1992)

Never Take Your Citizenship For Granted.Some people wait a lifetime to become an American!

There are 5 steps that can lead you to be more than just a

citizen.Strive to be a

Model Citizen!!!

RegularCitizen

KnowYourRights

BeResponsible

StayInformedMake

GoodDecisions

ParticipateIn Your

Community

Model Citizen

Step #1 – Know Your Rights

• Freedom of Religion• Freedom of Speech• Freedom of the

Press• Freedom of

Assembly• Freedom of Petition

The Right to Vote• 1789-White male property

owners over age 21• By 1850s-All white males

over age 21• 1870-Black males• 1920-Females• 1961-Residents of D. C.• 1971-Citizens over age 18

First Amendment Liberties

Step #2 – Be Responsible

Under 18:

*Get an Education

*Take Responsibility for Your Own Actions

*Help Your Family

All Ages:*Obey rules and

laws*Be tolerant of

others*Pay taxes

*Volunteer for causes

*Stay informed

Over 18:

*Vote*Serve on a jury

*Serve in the military todefend the country

Step #3 – Stay Informed

Know the issues by taking time to study current events.

Learn who candidates are in elections.

Never be afraid to ask questions!!!

Step #4 – Make Good DecisionsIdentify the

Problem

Gather Information

Analyze theInformation

ConsiderOptions

Choose aSolution

Implement theSolution

Evaluate theSolution

Step #5 – Participate in Your Community

If you see a cause you believe in, get out there and support it!

Individuals CAN and DO make a difference!!!