6.6 – Reading #4: Putting It All Together
Click the start button below to listen to a recording of Module 6 Reading Text [or listen as your teacher reads] OR take just a couple of minutes to scan the text again quickly. Think about any words or information you still have questions about. Then discuss the critical thinking questions as a class.
READING TEXT
Module 6: Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments
The United States Constitution was written in the late 1700s. There have been 27 amendments (additions and changes) to the original document. The first ten amendments are named the “Bill of Rights”. These amendments protect individual rights and limit the power of the federal government. The next 17 amendments explain voting rights, citizenship, and presidential power.
The United States Constitution was ratified by the states in 1789. It created a strong national government, but some leaders wanted more protection for an individual’s rights. These early American leaders wanted to see these rights added to the Constitution. Therefore, the leaders wrote the first ten amendments. States then ratified the Bill of Rights in 1791.
The first amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees certain freedoms for all people living in the United States. It allows for the freedom of speech, religion, and the right to meet together to discuss political ideas (“freedom of assembly”). Other amendments in the Bill of Rights include the right to own a gun, and the legal protection that the police can’t search a person or a place without a good reason. If a person is accused of a crime, they must have a trial quickly, with a lawyer. If a court decides they are guilty of a crime, people are also protected from receiving extremely cruel punishment.
After certain events in American history, lawmakers and citizens fought to make amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Many of the remaining 17 amendments help make our laws more fair to all people living in the U.S. For example, after the American Civil War, important amendments were added. These amendments said that no person can be enslaved or owned by another person and that all people must be treated equally under the law. Other amendments defined voting rights and some are about the government’s powers. For example, one amendment gives the government the power to tax the people, while another says that the president can only serve two terms.
The Constitution guarantees certain rights to everyone in America, but sometimes people’s rights can be violated or taken away. When this happens, people have the power to fight for their rights by protesting, getting help from community organizations, or by getting help from the legal system. Women, minorities, the disabled, people of all sexual orientations, and many others have used these methods to protect and expand their rights. For example, women fought for the right to vote for many decades before it became an amendment to the Constitution in 1920. The U.S. Constitution is called a “living document” because it grows and changes over time as society evolves.
Review Questions
Review the two questions below and be prepared to discuss the answers as a class or in small groups.
- In the United States, do you think that people have the right to do anything that they want? Why or why not?
- How can Americans expand their rights? What are some examples where this has been or might be necessary for certain groups or individuals?
LET’S WRITE! Remember, a summary includes the main idea and major supporting details.
Now, you will write a brief summary of the reading text for this module on the Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments. Think about 3-5 points that you would write to someone who hasn’t read the text.
Write your summary in your notebook. You can work on your own or with a partner. You may be asked to share it with the class.
