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Impacts of the Bill of Rights and Its Amendments

The world is made of dreams. Dreams are the hope in a world of uncertainty. Every single person, including the person reading this, has them. Dreams lead to progress, and as many people dream of opportunity and freedom, America is the place to live your dream. Though many people may passionately hate America, these astounding facts that are going to be stated may just change ones mind. In the United States of America, citizens are given rights through the law that cannot be taken away from them. These rights are listed in the Bill of Rights. The impact of the Bill of Rights and its amendments are the backbone of this nation. Many nations around the world see Americans as ungrateful people who take their lives for granted. No one should take the Bill of Rights for granted; it is impossible for Americans to do anything without thinking about how fortunate they are to have rights. Citizens are grateful to their Founding Fathers who fought to give them rights. Although the Founding Fathers did not unanimously agree to ratify the Bill of Rights, it is the sole reason Americans have the freedom to live their lives as they choose; the Bill of Rights limited the Federal governments power, gave United States citizens specific rights, and made America one of the first countries to give its people a voice. From the moment it was ratified, the Bill of Rights was the ideal democratic document, as it was written of the people, by the people, and for the people to guarantee rights to the people. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791. It is a symbol of peace, freedom, and the culture of the United States. It was influenced by George Masons 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights, Magna Carta, and the Age of Enlightenment. The Bill of Rights was written to protect the peoples rights and limit the governments power. The Founding Fathers made the Bill of Rights because they did not trust Congress with the peoples natural rights.

Alexander Hamilton and many of his supporters opposed that idea. He said Congress should only do what is directly stated in the Constitution. Hamilton said in the eighty-fourth Federalist Paper, The Bill of Rights are not only unnecessary, but would be even dangerous (Williams). The Bill of Rights states that other powers should belong to the states, such as marriage and education laws. For example, gay marriage is allowed in only some states today. Before the ratification of the Bill of Rights, Thomas Jefferson disagreed with Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson thought the limits on the Federal government in the Constitution should be loosely interpreted. Federalists, like Alexander Hamilton, wanted a Constitution with no Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists wanted the Bill of Rights to limit the strong national government that was created in the Constitution alone, not focusing on citizens rights. James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights. He was originally a Federalist and was persuaded to change his viewpoint (qtd. Bailey). It was written to govern human nature. People who obtain power tend to want more power. The Founding Fathers wanted to protect citizens from abusive, tyrannical leaders, so that Americans can be given a chance live their dreams. In communist societies, such as China or the former Soviet Union, citizens were suppressed by leaders who had little regard for them. These examples prove putting specific limits on the government has a greater positive effect than negative effect. The Bill of Rights and its amendments put limits on the Federal government, just like a handbook, it tells the government what it can and cannot do. These limits can specifically be found in the ninth and tenth amendments. The ninth amendment states, The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. (Remy 791). Though the Constitution gives many direct rights to its citizens, this amendment is for the general protection of rights. It is not stated or known what rights this

3 amendment was written to protect. The Roe v. Wade case made the amendments meaning clearer. Citizens of the United States are entitled to privacy. The tenth amendment says, The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. (Tenth Amendment). Any power not precisely stated is given to the states. This amendment was argued about more than any other amendment because others interpreted the Constitution to be a guideline rather than the supreme law of the land. Having an unlimited government may seem beneficial in the beginning. For example, Adolf Hitler seemed like he was the consummate power figure in Germany in the beginning of his reich empire. He brought the nation out of its economic crisis. The Germans did not have laws that limited their leaders power so he was able to take total control of their nation. Congress allowed the President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to declare war on and ultimately defeat the Nazis. World War II proved Americas checks and balances system to be above a dictatorship. Every form of power in the government checks another sections power, which is why the President has to go through Congress in order to declare war. There are many other checks and balances in our government which are clearly outlined in the Constitution. Limited government is needed for the people to be guaranteed rights. Another historic example occurred when Perus dictator overthrew their Congress because there were no laws to tell him he could not do it. Without limits on the government, people would be slaves to the government with no command over their own lives. Americans can turn dreams into a reality because citizens are entitled to more rights that allow people to pursue their goals than most countries have all together. One might say that America is like a shriveled dead flower compared to another countrys blossoming garden. Why would a person degrade another country when they have no

firsthand experience in the nation? The opposite of what the person said just may be true. The United States is the country that gives its citizens the most rights. The Bill of Rights is an American citizens ticket to live freely. Americans are entitled to believe what they want, say what they want, and get whatever education they desire all because our Constitution says they can. Other countries have religious rulers who take away rights to women, rights to education, and many other opportunities that are amiable in America. For example, many women in the Middle East do not have the opportunity to get an education. They are brought up to believe they are slaves to men. They must remain fully covered outdoors and walk behind their spouse. American women can make a career in whatever field they chose. Women can become the president of this nation and leaders in churches and communities because they are entitled to that right. In addition, citizens can further their education to their hearts desire. People may argue that these rights have been abused. The United States of America has murderers, thieves, and horrible public influences. However, foreign nations should not degrade America. In doing so, they are being hypocritical. It is impossible for their homeland to be perfect. The positive effects of giving people rights highly outweigh the negative ones. These rights have led to new rights such as desegregating America. They have also led advances in the nation. Many new ideas have come from people of various ethnicities and genders; these ideas would not have been fully developed in other countries because the owners of the idea are suppressed into silence. America has many opportunities for each and every citizen to pursue; people are able to do things they never would have dreamed possible all because the Founding Fathers let democratic principles allow citizens their natural rights, which include: life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.

Many people around the world do not like America. They say its citizens are egotistical and ungrateful. It is also said that the people do not deserve their rights nor should they be given to them. Every single person, no matter what background, ethnicity, or social standing, should be guaranteed rights. It is philosophically proven by John Locke, who lived long before America was even a colony. Lockes philosophy stated that the government should guarantee rights to the people. It is unfortunate that most countries do not follow this philosophy. However, America gives its citizens a Bill of Rights so that it is impossible for their rights to be taken away. The opportunities given to Americans are innumerable. Women can have careers and all races are equal. Leaders of high standing in the government come from a multitude of races and backgrounds, proving every American citizen is given an equal chance to succeed. These are just two rights among the many that all American citizens are given to allow them to pursue their dreams. Dreams and happiness in America go hand in hand. They are both possible to achieve due to the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a prime example of a democratic document in a democratic nation. It was written by the people when citizens of the United States, the Founding Fathers, wrote it. It was written for the people, to protect citizens from those who may corrupt this nation. Last but not least it was written of the people. The Founding Fathers were elected to Congress by the people. All this things mean the people have a voice. The voice to each persons freedom and their dreams were given to them in the Bill of Rights. The impacts of the Bill of Rights have made America the successful and powerful nation it is today. It was written to give the citizens their freedom. Americans have rights because the Bill of Rights limited the governments power to give us our rights. They can pursue their dreams and goals because they have the opportunity to do so. Let it be seen that America is not the horrible country some make

it out to be. It is the land of opportunity; opportunity which is given to them through the Bill of Rights. The reader can now see that America is a nation of hope and prosperity, not one of egotistical and ungrateful citizens. Americans really do live their choice dream because the Bill of Rights gives each and every person the opportunity to live it!