U.S. History
Protection from Possible Tyranny:
Anti-Federalists & the American Bill of Rights
The Anti-Federalists were opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because they felt as though it gave too much power to the national government. Anti-Federalists believed that a powerful national government would become tyrannical like the British monarchy. Anti-Federalists feared that a tyrannical, national government would take rights away from American citizens (as the British had done). The only way the Anti-Federalists would agree to ratification was if the Federalists included a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.
A Bill of Rights is a set of rules that defines people’s rights. The idea for an American Bill of Rights was based upon the English Bill of Rights. In 1689, the King was forced to grant certain rights to the people of England which included the right of individuals to own weapons and the right to vote. Anti-Federalists wanted an American Bill of Rights to ensure that the government could never take away the “unalienable” rights of American citizens. The Anti-Federalists viewed the Bill of Rights was a safeguard which would prevent the national government from becoming tyrannical.
It was James Madison, a delegate at the Virginia state convention that suggested the addition of an American Bill of Rights. He began writing a list of amendments (changes) to the Constitution which guaranteed all American citizens certain rights. Many people agreed with Madison. They hoped that a bill of rights would protect Americans from the power of the national government. Congress edited Madison’s changes to the Constitution and proposed that the amendments be included at the end of the Constitution in a separate section.
The amendments went to the states first for ratification. As with the Constitution, three-quarters of the states needed to agree to the amendments for them to become official. Virginia agreed to ratify the Constitution with the inclusion of the ten amendments in 1791. At this time, the ten amendments were ratified and became the law of the land. These ten amendments became known as the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect American citizens from the American government. The Bill of Rights guaranteed that Americans could criticize the government without fear of punishment (right to free speech). The 2nd Amendment guaranteed Americans the right to own weapons (in case they needed to defend themselves from outside invaders…or defend themselves against a tyrannical American government). The Bill of Rights ensured that all Americans would have the right to privacy (4th Amendment). The American government could not come and search or seize citizen’s property. The Bill of Rights guarantees that all Americans must receive fair consequences if they break the law. The 8th Amendment prohibits the government from issuing “cruel and unusual” punishments. All of these rights ensure that the American government does not abuse its power over American citizens.
Name: U.S. History
Date:
Core:
History of the Bill of Rights
Reflection Questions
Directions: Use the Protection from Possible Tyranny and the A Closer Look at the Bill of Rights handouts to help you answer the following questions.
Fact Check… (11 points)
1. Explain why the Anti-Federalists opposed to ratification of the Constitution. ______(4 points)
Be sure to address the Anti-Federalists concerns about citizens’ rights in your explanation.
2. Who was the main author of the American Bill of Rights? ______(1 point)
3. Define the word “amendment” : ______(1 point)
4. How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights? ______(2 points)
5. According to the Founding Fathers, what is the purpose of the Bill of Rights? ______
______(3 points)
Name That Amendment! Your explanations should be written in the same format as the model we went over in class today. (15 points – 5 points each)
6. Jacob attends a public school in Connecticut. Jacob, who is Jewish, wears a yarmulke, to school. A yarmulke is a small round cap worn by Jewish men as a symbol of their religious faith. The principal tells Jacob that he is not allowed his yarmulke in school because it violates the schools dress code (which states that students cannot wear hats in school). Public schools are operated by the government. Jacob feels that the government is violating one of his Constitutional rights. Which one?
a. 1st Amendment
b. 2nd Amendment
c. 4th Amendment
d. 8th Amendment
I chose answer choice ____ because: ______
______
In your explanation, identify the specific right(s) being violated. Next explain how the government is violating those rights (in Jacob’s opinion).
7. Marty and his family are homeless. One day, Marty decided to steal a woman’s purse as a way of getting some extra money. Marty is caught by police. Marty has never broken a law before in his life. Marty pleads his case before the judge. The judge listens and then he sentences Marty to life in prison for trying to steal the women’s purse. Marty feels that one of his rights is being violated by the judge. Which one?
a. 1st Amendment
b. 2nd Amendment
c. 4th Amendment
d. 8th Amendment
I chose answer choice ____ because: ______
______
In your explanation, identify the specific right(s) being violated. Next explain how the government is violating those rights (in Marty’s opinion).
8. Lulu lives in Littleton, Louisiana. Walter Smith was elected mayor of Littleton last month. Lulu hates Walter Smith. They have known each other since they were in elementary school together 40 years ago. Lulu is telling everyone in town that the Walter’s poor leadership will ruin Littleton. Walter passes a law that prohibits Lulu and others in town from saying negative things about him in public. Lulu feels this is a violation of one of her rights. Which one?
a. 1st Amendment
b. 2nd Amendment
c. 4th Amendment
d. 8th Amendment
I chose answer choice ____ because: ______
In your explanation, identify the specific right(s) being violated. Next explain how the government is violating those rights (in Lulu’s opinion).
U.S. History
Name That Amendment!
Class Model
You will be given a set of scenarios in which people feel as though the government is violating one of their constitutional rights. Your job is to figure out which of their rights is being violated. Look at the sample below:
Sample Question:
The town of Stonington, CT passes a law that makes it illegal for any citizen to own a gun. The citizens of Stonington, CT feel as though the town government is violating one of their rights. Which one?
a. 1st Amendment
b. 2nd Amendment
c. 4th Amendment
d. 8th Amendment
I chose answer choice B because: the second amendment guarantees Americans the right to “bear arms” (which means that people have the rights to own weapons in our country). The local government in the town of Stonington passed a law that prevents citizens from owning a gun, which prevents them from using the rights given to them in the 2nd Amendment.
Step by step (color coded) guide to answering these questions
Step 1 / Read the scenario and highlight/underline any information that could be viewed as a violation of Constitutional rights (You may want to use the A Closer Look at the Bill of Rights handout when completing this section)Step 2 / Select the amendment containing the right which is being violated
Step 3 / In your explanation, identify the specific right(s) being violated.
Step 4 / Explain how the government is violating those rights (in the citizens’ opinion).