Political Science - Rights and Freedom of Us Citiznes

Political Science - Rights and Freedom of Us Citiznes

The many rights and freedoms U.S citizens take for granted today were not available 235 years ago. Under the British rule, early settlers in America faced numerous injustices and acts of tyranny. In an effort to secure their personal liberties and rights, the people of America came up with the Declaration of Independence. The article stated the abuses of the King of Britain, George III, against the colonies and that they wished independence from such tyranny. The Declaration of Independence declares "the causes which impel," the colonies "to the separation." The abuses cited by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence served as a reminder in the creation of the Constitution, to prevent such misuse of power by the government. The Constitution includes amendments that protect the rights and freedoms of the people in the new republic.
The first ten amendments secure an individual's right to freedom of speech, religion, bear arms, privacy, and a fair trial with a jury. These amendments were created to protect the people against misuses of power experienced under the rule of King George III. As the Declaration of Independence states, the king "has dissolved representatives houses repeatedly for opposing, with manly firmness, his invasion on the rights of the people." Under the rule of King George III, people were punished for speaking for what they thought was right. In response to this, the first amendment was created and it gives individuals the freedom of speech. The third amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes of individuals in times of peace because the King was "quartering large bodies of armed troops among" the people of America. An important issue was the unfairness of court trials. King George III "made judges dependent on his will alone," and as result, convicted individuals were judged unfairly. The fifth and sixth amendment give individuals that right to be innocent until proven guilty and "the right to a speedy and public...

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