A bill of rights is a written document that defines the rights of citizens and establishes limitations on the government. Americans were not the first to recognize the need for a Bill of Rights that define peoples “unalienable rights.” Our national Bill of Rights is derived from ideas of the Enlightenment, English laws and from most of the state constitutions of the early republic. Three sources in particular were influential in framing the ideas found in the United States Bill of Rights; The Magna Carta (1215), The English Bill of Rights (1689) and the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776).
Task:
1. Look at the Chart Historical Documents Leading to the Bill of Rights.
2. Read the 1st 10 amendments of the United States Constitution (The Bill of Rights)
3. List what rights are protected by each Amendment (column 1)
4. If any right from that amendment is found in our Historical Documents color that Documents column in with a specific color.
5. Create an illustration that explains what right (s) contained within each amendment.
Historical Documents Leading to the Bill of Rights.
Magna Carta: 1215 / English Bill of Rights (1689) / Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)Limited power of government
Trial by jury
Due process of law
Taking property with just compensation
No cruel and unusual punishment
Right of Petition / No standing army in peacetime
Free elections
Right of petition
Parliamentary checks on power
Right to keep and bear arms
Due Process of Law / Freedom of the Press
Protection against searches without a
Warrant
Free exercise of religion
Right to Keep and bear arms
Protection against self-incrimination
(forced to testify against yourself)
Right of Petition
Trial by jury
Speedy Trial
What Are YOUR Rights? / MC / EBofR / VDoR / Illustration of Rights
1st Amendment
2nd Amendment
3rd Amendment
4th Amendment
5th Amendment
6th Amendment
7th Amendment
8th Amendment
9th Amendment
10th Amendment