Bill Of Rights

Bill Of Rights

Bill of Rights
Without the amendments, citizens of the United States of America would not have the most basics of liberties such as freedom of speech and the rights to own property. This paper will discuss why amendments become part of the Constitution, what issues of the original documents motivated the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The paper will also include the problems with the original document, or changes in society that led to later amendments, and the effects of these later amendments.
Amendments
Amendments became part of the Constitution because of changes occurring over time among society that are affecting the well-being of the citizens. According to National Archives and Records Administration (2011), Article V of the United States Constitution has the authority to amend the Constitution. An amendment is proposed by either Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Congress has to have a two-thirds majority vote from the House of Representatives and the Senate (NARA, 2011).   However, in order for an amendment to pass, it has to be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the 50 States to become part of the Constitution. Amendments 13 through 15 helped African Americans to have equal opportunities as American citizens such as freedom from slavery, granted citizenship, and the right to vote.
Adoption of the Bill of Rights
The original Constitution contains very few individual rights because the Federalists were trying to create an effective government and protecting the new Constitution. During the ratification debate, the Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution threatens liberties of the people and only specified what the government can do but not what the government cannot do. However, the Federalists believed the new Constitution will protect liberties through the divisions of power. In the end, the Federalist believed that the ratification of the states may not be possible...