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
The protections of speech and assembly were in direct response to Britain's Coercive Acts, which prohibited town meetings and restricted the right to assemble. 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. Amendment one, which covered the main protections of individual rights, granted freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and petition. Though Zenger's trial pronounced him innocent, this is a prominent example of the heavy bowdlerization and censorship of colonial press. Though only two Presidents have been impeached - Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton - this power prevents monarchial tyranny and misconduct, which was prominent among British rulers such as George Grenville (who introduced many taxes of the time), Parliament (authority of many unfair taxes), Charles Townshend (founder of the Townshend Acts and enforcer of the Quartering Acts), and Lord North (instigator of the villainous Coercive Acts). 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. The Bill of Rights ensured basic liberties and inalienable rights - foreign concepts under previous British rule. " The bright ideas incorporated into the Constitution and Bill of Rights still light the way for a strong nation after more than 200 years. This despotism was evident to the elder statesman, George Washington, of the Convention, who once stated: "[The evidence of British tyranny was] as clear as the sun in its meridian brightness". In colonial times, these freedoms didn't exist. In the remainder of the Bill of Rights, criminal and civil trial rights are secured; military regulations are controlled to protect society; and delegated and reserved powers are established to eliminate confusion in the government. Though the President possessed power as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Congress's sole right to declare war limited his authority. The President could check Congress by issuing vetoes on measures passed. Additionally, under British rule, no free press existed and all publicly circulated documents were heavily censored.
Common topics in this essay:
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,
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Acceptance Essays
