The Constitution: Relief for All
Tyranny. Oppression. Repression. Restriction. These descriptors illustrate British rule's impact on the colonial population. After years of unwarranted invasions, unfair taxes, and burdensome laws, people dreaded the continuing loss of their freedoms. A group of 55 men recognized that trepidation, and decided to make a bold change. In May of 1787, the Constitutional Convention began, planning a new government that would protect the people. One year later, with more than the nine votes required for ratification, the Constitution went into effect. The Constitution of the United States was written to ease fears stemming from past experiences with Great Britain. By delegating separate powers for the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government and by ratifying a Bill of Rights, the Constitution curtailed governmental tyranny and safeguarded individual freedoms. During the Constitutional Convention, the question of whether the Constitution should guarantee specific rights of citizens emerged. Opponents of these specified additional protections included Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, who argued that the Constitution already protected individual liberties. The right to obtain writ of habeas corpus, and the prohibi
With the people's freedom in mind, the delegates wrote the Bill of Rights. With the British regime emblazoned in their memories, the representatives of the Constitution created powers for the executive, legislature, and the judiciary. With the well being of the nation in sight, the framers amended the Constitution in 1791. This combination of individual liberties, limited government, separation of powers, and checks and balances not only opposed British rule, but also terminated governmental tyranny and societal subjugation. Jefferson's wise words, using the sun as a metaphor for rebirth and renewal, reflected on the triumphant Constitution and predicted the success of the new nation - "I have often in the course of the Session...looked at the sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun." The bright ideas incorporated into the Constitution and Bill of Rights still light the way for a strong nation after more than 200 years. Fearing a dictatorial rule like that under Great Britain, Constitutional Convention delegates in Philadelphia created a separate branch of government called the executive branch. This inclusion was also created in response to the many squabbles with the king, which they hoped the executive - as a separate entity - would eliminate. tion of a bill of attainer and ex post facto were a few of those examples. Conversely, supporters of a Bill of Rights urged individual protection, including the states of Massachusetts and Virginia. Eventually, as James Madison yielded to political pressure from home, a Bill of Rights encompassing ten amendments was ratified. The Bill of Rights ensured basic libert
Some common words found in the essay are:
Bill Rights, Constitutional Convention, Rights British, Washington Convention, President Congress, Montesquieu Delegates, York Zenger's, Repression Restriction, James Madison, House Representatives, bill rights, british rule, legislative judicial, governmental tyranny, checks balances, constitutional convention, remove office, two-thirds majority, coercive acts, speech assembly,
Approximate Word count = 1185
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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