What is the Constitution?
Our Nation was established because of the early American colonists' disagreement and displeasure with the ruling English king. King George III was politically powerful and the colonists were not. They were simply people who believed that they were being mistreated by England. They wanted to speak out, to make their opinions known, but speaking against the English government was not allowed. People were put in prison by simply saying that the English treated them unfairly.
The American Revolutionary War where the colonists won over England was the starting point to our Constitution. The colonies wanted a written constitution for their new government…a legal document agreed upon by the people as the controlling law of the land. This constitution describes the powers and the limits of government.
In 1779 twelve amendments were proposed and ten were accepted to the constitution known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment says; Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.
These rights give people the freedom to have unpopular beliefs and opinions that may not be held by the majority of society. People can also openly express those beliefs and opinions without fear of government punishment.
Miller, J. Anthony, Texas V. Johnson; The flag burning case. Berkeley Heights, Enslow, 1997 print.
http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/video/tfk-explains-us-constitution-103921
Our Nation was established because of the early American colonists' disagreement and displeasure with the ruling English king. King George III was politically powerful and the colonists were not. They were simply people who believed that they were being mistreated by England. They wanted to speak out, to make their opinions known, but speaking against the English government was not allowed. People were put in prison by simply saying that the English treated them unfairly.
The American Revolutionary War where the colonists won over England was the starting point to our Constitution. The colonies wanted a written constitution for their new government…a legal document agreed upon by the people as the controlling law of the land. This constitution describes the powers and the limits of government.
In 1779 twelve amendments were proposed and ten were accepted to the constitution known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment says; Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.
These rights give people the freedom to have unpopular beliefs and opinions that may not be held by the majority of society. People can also openly express those beliefs and opinions without fear of government punishment.
Miller, J. Anthony, Texas V. Johnson; The flag burning case. Berkeley Heights, Enslow, 1997 print.
http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/video/tfk-explains-us-constitution-103921