Basic documents affecting American Society
BASIC DOCUMENTS AFFECTING AMERICAN SOCIETYThere are three basic documents which affect American society almost daily in day to day affairs. They are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. EachThe sentiments in favor of independence from England was growing in the AmericanColonies during the last days of 1775. The opening battles of the revolution, at Lexengtonand Concord and at Bunker Hill, had already taken place when, in January 1776, Tom Paine
The government is duty bound to protect and nurture these rights or else the people may overthrow it. BILL OF RIGHTS:Many of the rights contained in the Bill of Rights were developed in England during the Middle Ages as attempts to limit the power of the king. Several of the rights, such as freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion, are considered necessary for the citizens to enjoy maximum freedom. The pamphlet was a violent attack on monarchyand on king George 111 and was a strong plea for an immediate declaration of indepen-dence. It sold more than one 100,000 copies within three months and led to a major increasein agitation for independence. The oldest written constitution still in use among the major nations, it has had great influence on constitutions later adopted by other countries. These are the ten amendments tothe Constitution. The Cons-titution was described the then British Prime Minister William Gladstone as 'the mostwonderful work ever struck off at one time by the brain and purpose of man. Others suchas those of assembly and petition, enable the citizens to take active part in government. THE CONSTITUTION:Constitution of the United States is the supreme law and plan of the government. finally, some of the rights, such as the right to trial by jury, are designed to guarantee justtreatment to a citizen who is accused of wrongdoing. The rights that Declaration cites, such as the right to life, are defined as natural rights givento man by God and not privileges granted by the government. The principle of limited government, as enshrined in the Constitution, was applied in severalways.
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