Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Celebrate Freedom Week

This week is Celebrate Freedom Week. We have studied the Constitution and the history behind it. As always we will be having a quiz on the material so PLEASE STUDY!

There were 13 original colonies, they are as followed: Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Deleware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

The PREAMBLE is the introduction to the Constitution and it lists the 6 goals of American Government.
 The Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

What did our founding fathers mean by these phrases?

"A more perfect union"  means "A better country"
"Domestic tranquility" means  "Peace in our country"
"Provide for the common defense" means "Protect all citizens"
"Promote the general welfare" means "Help those in needs so everyone can be well"
"Secure the blessings of liberty" means "Keep us free"

Vocabulary

Bill of Rights (a formal statement of the fundemental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution as Amendments 1-10, and in all state constitutions) 
Delegates (A person designated to act for or represent another or others)
Preamble (The introductory statement of the U.S Constitution)


The Amendments

    Protections Afforded Fundamental Rights and FreedomsBill Of Rights, U.S. Bill Of Rights, United States Bill Of Rights, Human Rights, U.S. Human Rights, Friends Of Freedom
      Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly; the right to petition the government.
    Protections Against Arbitrary Military ActionBill Of Rights, U.S. Bill Of Rights, United States Bill Of Rights, Human Rights, U.S. Human Rights, Friends Of Freedom
      Amendment 2: Right to bear arms and maintain state militias (National Guard). Amendment 3: Troops may not be quartered in homes in peacetime.
    Protection Against Arbitrary Police and Court ActionBill Of Rights, U.S. Bill Of Rights, United States Bill Of Rights, Human Rights, U.S. Human Rights, Friends Of Freedom
      Amendment 4: No unreasonable searches or seizures. Amendment 5: Grand Jury indictment required to prosecute a person for a serious crime. No "double jeopardy" -- being tried twice for the same offense. Forcing a person to testify against himself or herself prohibited. No loss of life, liberty or property without due process. Amendment 6: Right to speedy, public, impartial trial with defense counsel, and right to cross-examine witnesses. Amendment 7: Jury trials in civil suits where value exceeds 20 dollars. Amendment 8: No excessive bail or fines, no cruel and unusual punishments.
    Protections of States' Rights and Unnamed Rights of the PeopleBill Of Rights, U.S. Bill Of Rights, United States Bill Of Rights, Human Rights, U.S. Human Rights, Friends Of Freedom
      Amendment 9: Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied. Amendment 10: Powers not delegated to the United States or denied to states are reserved to the states or to the people.

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