Constitution Dbq

Did the Constitution Establish A Just Government? In July of 1776, soon after the Declaration of Independence was signed, The Second Continental Congress was faced with the arduous task of creating a piece of legislation that would help govern their nation successfully. They drew concepts from the Enlightenment including, but not limited to, the idea that the governments main goal was to protect the natural rights of citizens and that the government received all its power through a social contract. These ideas enabled them to draft the Constitution of 1787, which is the basis of modern American government. The founding fathers were able to outline the basic government structure of America, which encompassed a system of checks and balances.

It is important to note that there was a section of the constitution that protected slavery, which was crucial in the cultivation of cash crops and supported Americas economy. However, this shouldn't mask the overall success the founding fathers had writing the document. Although the Constitution of 1787 restricted the liberties of slaves, it was the foundation for a fair, stable government. The Constitution of 1787 differed in many ways from the Articles of Confederation. It was made to create a government in which the U.S. could function, thrive, and expand successfully. The delegates decided on a government consisting of three branches: legislative (Congress), executive (the President), and judicial (Supreme Court). The legislative branch had the responsibility of creating laws, the executive branch had the responsibly of enforcing the laws, and the judicial branch had the responsibly of interpreting the laws. Delegates believed this separation of powers into three different branches would ensure that the United States would not become another monarchy. To

House of Representatives, introduced 19 amendments to the Constitution. On September 25, 1789, Congress adopted 12 of the amendments and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified and became part of the Constitution in 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees the people certain basic protections as citizens. Amendment I gives freedom of religion, speech and the press. Amendment II gives the right to bear and keep arms. Amendment III gives individual’s right of domestic privacy. Amendment IV gives protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Amendment V gives the right to of habeas corpus. Amendment VI guarantees a cluster of rights designed to make criminal prosecutions more accurate, fair, and legitimate.. Amendment VII gives the right to jury in civil suits, Amendment VIII gives the right to o excessive bail or fines; no cruel or unusual punishment. Amendment IX gives rights retained by the people. Amendment X gives states’ rights. The bill of Rights puts limits on government power, which makes the government more just since the balance of power is far between the people, government, and the states. The Bill of Rights, in the Constitution, made the Constitution more fair since it guaranteed individual