Confederation Flaws

Trying to decide which of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution is the most important, is a tough question to answer. All twenty-seven amendments that have been made to The United States most sacred document ether are or were at one point important and dealt with a pressing issue or concern of the times that they were ratified. Yes, there are a few that may not seem to pertain to today’s society, but even those have a history that helped make America what it is today. To figure out which of the amendment is of the upmost importance, one would need to start by analyzing a few of the top contenders that come to mind, as well as imagining life without them. Some of the most popular amendments are of course the first two.

The Articles of Confederation was full of weaknesses from the start. It provided no federal courts and no power to enforce its resolutions and ordinances. It had no power to levy taxes and had to rely on the states to provide the budget, which was often ignored. The government wasn 't able to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. Essentially, under the Articles, the government was not a uniform entity supported by the states, but a jumbled nation of states governing themselves under a common name.

A Bill of Rights versus an Amendment Although the original ten Amendments of The Constitution are often referred to as the Bill of Rights, there are important differences between an amendment and a bill of rights. The purpose of this paper is to define a bill of rights and an amendment, and then to clarify their differences. Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary Online (1828) defines a bill of rights as “A summary of fundamental rights and privileges guaranteed to a people against violation by the state—used especially of the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution.” A bill of rights is a law that protects the rights listed within it from abuse by government or any higher power.

Before the U.S. Constitution there was the Articles of Confederation. The document could declare war, negotiate treaties, and control foreign affairs. It couldn’t enforce laws, tax, and raise its own army. What the Articles Of Confederation lacked was a strong central government. Alexander Hamilton called for a constitutional convention in 1786, and it took place in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787.

The Articles of Confederation were approved on November 1777, which left many constraints on the federal government. The people were so worried about corruption, that they left the government powerless on all affairs, including foreign relations, military, Indian issues, and interstate disputes. In addition it denied Congress the power of taxation, the states were supposed to donate money to the government, which rarely occured. Each state had only one vote in Congress, but could send as many as seven delegates or as few as two, but if they divided equally on an issue the state lost its vote. There was not a President or independent executive and no veto over legislate decisions.

On July 9th, 1868 the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted in order to secure the previously infringed on rights of formerly enslaved African Americans. This racially charged amendment was intended to guarantee the protection for these former slaves, yet this amendment was distorted in order to justify and deny rights for women, gay couples, men, and various other minority groups. Through examining specific cases such as, Muller v. Oregon and Bradwell v. Illinois, it becomes evident that this amendment has been used both positively and negatively to effect women’s rights and protection under the law. Especially in regarding the 19th century, the Fourteenth Amendment was used to rationalize sexist actions by employers, states, and other officials.

The 14th amendment was written after the Civil War to protect Naturalized citizens of their rights and equal protection of the law. The amendment resolves the legal status of former slaves, even though there was still a lot of confusion over newly freed slaves African Americans were still restricted in the southern states. Black children weren’t allowed to attend schools with white children because of the segregation laws but after a lawsuit was filed 1954 Brown v. board of education, the separate but equal is unequal, so the segregation laws were abolished in 1964 by the Civil Rights Act. The 14th amendment gave way too many legal rights to the Americans people to proof to the Government and State that all no matter the race have rights to

Introduction to the Ten Amendments The Ten Amendments of the Constitution are also called the Bill of Rights. These Ten Amendments are the rights and freedom Americans were ratified in 1791 using the process of three-fourths majority vote of all the states. These amendments were ratified mostly because of fear of an over powerful central government that could eventually lead to tyranny. In response, the Ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, was added to the United States Constitution to guarantee the individual’s essential rights and civil liberties.

One of the three most important amendment is the Second Amendment that Guarantees the right to bear arms. This amendment is important because it gives people the right to have guns that help protect us. Guns also help us hunt and for most people that is a food supply. About three percent of adults own half of America's gun. Thirty two percent of American household own guns.

The Second Amendment The Second Amendment has been heavily debated for years. This in itself is humorous considering how easily it became an Amendment. When it was written, people gave it little thought, as it was considered normal; “the Amendment was easily accepted because of widespread agreement that the federal government should not have the power to infringe the right … anymore than it should have the power to abridge the freedom of speech … ” (Lund).

"Should you stand for the American flag or should you kneel in protest?" A question Americans have began asking after the recent NFL national anthem kneel protest. I say, you should stand for the flag not only for pride but also what the flag stands for. As well as respect for fellow soldiers and veterans who have for fought for the flag to keep waving; but ironically, the American ideas give the right to do as you please to the flag from kneeling or even burning. Now should you really kneel for the flag in protest?

America has long been considered “the land of the free”, illustrated in many historic documents from around the time our country was born. The Declaration of Independence of 1776 immediately showed that freedom, as we declared ourselves independent of Britain’s rule. A little over a decade later, in 1787, the Constitution was created, after the failed attempt of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution initiated the setup of America’s government during the Constitutional Convention, in which George Washington was selected as the first president of the United States. Another four years later, in 1791, the Bill of Rights was adopted as part of the Constitution, giving Americans their basic freedoms that are very much debated about today.